ST. ELMO'S FIRE. Directed by Joel Schumacher; written by Joel Schumacher and Carl Kurlander; produced by Lauren Shuler for Columbia. Starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Mare Winningham. Rated R (language, a couple of discreet sex scenes).
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It might not be the best way to recommend a movie to San Antonio audiences in the summer. But "hot" properties, namely its seven young stars, make St. Elmo's Fire worth seeing.
The story is mostly predictable. Seven friends, recent graduates of Georgetown University (in Washington, D.C.) are trying to adjust to life in the real world. Different "types" are included in the group—some work too hard, others not hard enough, some are quite promiscuous, some inexperienced. Relationships among stereotypes like this naturally contain few surprises. And their relationships with each other is really all the movie is about.
But in spite of the lack of plot suspense, the acting is good enough to make the types interesting people as well. And it's also good enough to make their friendships believable, even though they don't always seem to have much in common, and their personalities are often at odds.
It's hard to single out performers in an ensemble picture like this. In terms of onscreen time, as well as interest, the seven main roles are about equally important. Lowe has perhaps the meatiest role as Billy, an irresponsible musician. Although his characters in previous movies have been appealing pretty-boy types, he does a good job here with a guy who is a real creep for most of St. Elmo's Fire.
Kevin (McCarthy) is the most sympathetic of the gang. He suffers from unrequited love, attempting to hide behind a cynical attitude. (In a wonderful little bit of stage business, he flicks cigarette ashes into Leslie's (Sheedy) wok of simmering vegetables when he has to listen to her and Alec (Nelson) playing in the next room.
The women in the case provide an interesting sampling of types. Leslie is a budding career woman, Jules (Moore) flirts with being a jet setter. And Wendy (Winningham) tries to shuffle desires to save the world, break away from parents, and deal with a destructive infatuation—all at once.
My favorite character, though, is Kirbo (Estevez) even though his bizarre little sub-plot has little to do with the other members of the ensemble. He becomes obsessed with an older woman, following her on his bike through the rain, embarrassing her at a ski retreat, etc. The twist he eventually puts on this familiar story is clever and original.
All the characters in St. Elmo's Fire seem considerably self-absorbed, and this attitude is sometimes irritating. But that's how people behave in their particular stage of life.
School is such an overwhelming stabilizing influence, and it's taken for granted for so long. When suddenly it's not there, a bit of floundering around in search of oneself is inevitable. Young adults in general, as well as the St. Elmo 's crew, aren't always appealing. But they're interesting to watch, they have a few laughs, and they usually do grow up, little by little.
July 17, 1985