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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
A collective vanity piece for the so-called Brat Pack of the 1980s, this coming-of-age movie--written and directed by Joel Schumacher (A Time to Kill)--is a largely unbelievable ensemble piece about college grads having trouble getting a lift-off into adulthood. As in John Hughes's Breakfast Club--which has a lot of casting overlap with this film--each actor plays a rather narrow type with problems common to his or her classification. Some (as with Rob Lowe's seemingly doomstruck character) are more absurd than others. But absurdity isn't the issue in this movie; a general sense of indulgence is. Schumacher not only presumes an undeserved mystique about this cast, but he also exploits it and comes up empty. --Tom Keogh
Different to your usual "Brat Pack" movies, but still great
Review date: 2006-12-03 Rating: 8 out of 10
This movie is considered as one of the famous 80s "Brat Pack" movies, since it featured some well-known actors and actresses of the 80s "Brat Pack", such as Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez.
However, it is very different from their other movies, so it's wrong to think that if you liked the others, then you'll like St Elmo's Fire, too.
St Elmo's Fire is not a teen movie, it's a movie about young adults who have just left school and who are trying to find their place in the adult's world. It's about different expectations and hopes young adults have, their goals, and how they are trying to achieve them (more or less successfully). By the end of the movie they have all realized that being an adult is not as easy and great as they thought when they left school.
If you watch the movie and expect something like "16 Candles" or "The Breakfast Club", then you might be disappointed because it's not like those movies (on the other hand, if you don't like those movies it doesn't necessarily mean you won't like this one). The content is less funny (even though there are some laughs) but rather sad and mature.
But the movie itself is not a disappointment at all!
It features brilliant actors (which is important because it's mainly a character movie), who play their parts really persuasive (I especially love the interactions of Alec (Judd Nelson), Leslie (Ally Sheedy) and Kevin (Andrew McCarthy)).
I bought it because it had Emilio Estevez in it, but I was pleasantly suprised with the other actor's performances.
Buy it!
If you want to see a classic film about spreading your wings in the big wide world then this is it.
St Elmo's fire brings together the best collection of young actors from a generation of talent.
Judd Nelson (Breakfast Club, 1985) Andrew McCarthy (Class, 1984), Rob Lowe (Class, 1984),
Ally Sheedy (Breakfast Club, 1985), Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Mare Winningham, Andie Macdowell.
Directed by Joel Schumacher, a very enlightened guy and a great film brain. Watch out for the added commentary on the DVD, it's a really great insight into how the film was made and it's continuing timeless success from 1985 to today.
Mart Owen.