St Elmo's Fire 1985 Movie Review | Retrospective

In this video we take a look back at the 1985 film, St. Elmo's Fire. This movie is considered an 80s classic Brat Pack movie. We watch the movie and let you know if it still stands the test of time.
IMDB description: A group of friends, just out of college, struggle with adulthood.
#KissTheReviews #MovieReviews #StElmosFire #Comedy

[@daverindone655]

I was 18 in 1985 and we were all exited to see all the young actors of the time in one place. I still call it my favorite "bad" movie or the perfect background flick while you're doing laundry or something.

[@KisstheReviews]

Oh I can’t imagine the excitement. It had to be like the Avengers for teenage angst. 😂 We hear those same sentiments often about this movie. Dope AF back in the day but great background sound today. Thanks for commenting!!

[@coryakabueze4541]

Kirby is the worst character in this movie

[@KisstheReviews]

Kirby may be the worst character of the 80s...

[@tbewin1z143]

Great review!!! You covered everything bad in the film here, especially creepy Kirby as well as the friends having a beer right after Judd Nelson tries to murder Andrew McCarthy!!! "You tried to murder me yesterday? Its ok bro, how 'bout a Guinness!!!"

[@KisstheReviews]

Thank you very much! Horrible characters all around! 😂 Thank you for commenting!

[@Idk59898]

enjoyed this very accurate. loved this movie when I was 12

[@KisstheReviews]

Appreciate you!

[@nata3467]

Love your take down of Kirby. I can not believe how creepy he was...actually , they were all a bunch of pretentious assholes

[@KisstheReviews]

Thank you!! Right?! It’s kinda crazy how gross they all are!

[@MarkDouglass-dt9ky]

These guys are great reviewers and funny and accurate: but I love this movie!!! I loved it maybe for the reasons they hated it. I can’t explain it.

[@KisstheReviews]

😂😂 Thank you so much!

[@bonniemartell9750]

I loved this movie!!

[@KisstheReviews]

Dig it!!

[@emanuellawton7942]

I saw this movie when it came out in 1985 and I found that the problems that most of the characters faced were shallow and superficial. I had no sympathy for any of them. They were displaying such spoiled bratty behavior for people who were brought up so privileged and having the opportunity to graduate from a good Ivy League college.I thought they were brats before I even heard of the term Brat Pack because I saw the movie before I even heard anything about the 1985 article by David Blum that came up with that term.

[@julieann4616]

I watched this last night so this was perfect, you guys are exactly what I wanted to hear. I loved that you referred to Andie McDowell’s lover/boyfriend (?) as her “boy toy or whatever”. 😂😂 I also think Wendy was wearing some kind of fat suit under her insanely lame dresses to appear even more frumpy. Why would that group of people even be friends with her?? Wendy liking Billy is the only interesting thing about her. Jules (in my opinion) was so hot AND a graduate of Georgetown University (!) she could’ve done anything she wanted, and gotten paid for it, coked out or not. Billy got on the bus for NYC...ff to he ends up dying from AIDS from using dirty needles. Alec Newbury ends up marrying a much better looking woman (w/ straight teeth) and invites Leslie to the wedding to thank her for dumping him. Kevin continues to smoke his ears off & be terrified of appearing in any way masculine. But I have to say, I still like this terrible movie!! 💜💜

[@KisstheReviews]

Love it!! Let's write that sequel today! Thanks for the comment!!

[@stephenohara3014]

As someone who lived through that time and at that age - we were all selfish pricks, get over it! However, what we had - and what what this movie doesn't provide - was an amazing soundtrack. Let me offer a quick 'for instance' of the bands relevant when the film was made: Talking Heads, New Order, The Cure, Billy Idol, The Smiths, REM, Blondie, The Pretenders, The Clash, The Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, The Cars, Spandau Ballet, The B-52's, Eurythmics, The Police, Prince etc. To not offer anything of that 80's soundtrack is unforgiveable. The film's skin-flint 'Music Director' David Foster should have coughed up the money and paid the royalties for at least one 80's hit. Instead, we are offered David Foster's own 'S-#-%-T'. Watch Kirby's party scene as the actors attempt to dance to David Foster's tunes as if they enjoyed them. That takes real acting. They earned their 80's bucks.

[@KisstheReviews]

The music could’ve been amazing! 80s had great music!! Thanks for commenting!

[@ladiegreen608]

REMEMBER WHEN ANDREW McCARTNEY WAS IN EVERY MOVIE? I LOVE HIM...."THE BENIKER GANG" WAS THE 1ST MOVIE I SAW HIM IN.

[@KisstheReviews]

😂 His ass was in every damn movie!! LOL

[@takayasu2009]

I believe Andy Macdowell was unknown when she appeared in this film.

[@KisstheReviews]

Good call!! Thanks for commenting!

[@keithhansen4891]

I went into this film expecting something realistic- what a surprise!

[@KisstheReviews]

😂😂😂

[@LaunchPadMcQuack4Hire]

I've never seen St. Elmo's Fire, but it's on Amazon Prime right now. Trying to decide if I should check it out. Even though you both said everyone should definitely skip it, morbid curiosity has really taken a hold of me. Hmm...

[@KisstheReviews]

Lmao...be prepared to watch it and check Twitter, email and maybe get some house cleaning done lol

[@jasonleetaiwan]

It's not great, but if you like to see the Brat pack or the 80's, then you can watch it. I personally thought there were too many characters, but it was all right.

[@jasonleetaiwan]

Remove Rob Lowe and the Wendy character, and the movie improves enormously. There were way too many characters with little character development in this film which relies on star power and a good soundtrack. The mere fact that this review is over 30 minutes suggests that it wasn't that bad. The Last Jedi gets long reviews because the reviewer hates it so much. A long review of most films suggests you loved it or loved to hate it at least.

[@KisstheReviews]

Love to hate sums it up well. If they got rid of those two characters it would’ve given more time to develop the rest of the characters. That would definitely make it better. Thanks for the comment.

[@KisstheReviews]

That’s a theory. If you knew us though, you’d understand that the review is so long bc Armando and I firmly believe if you only use three words when you could have used ten; you simply aren’t trying. 😂 We long winded AF…

[@Truthseeker1515]

This movie was so unrealistic, who would continue to chill out at your local college bar, after graduation? No way! It does not happen. Moreover, no periods of unemployment? The late 80s were a nightmare for early Gen Xers, you could not find jobs with the recession....even from Ivy league institutions. If anything, Reality Bites is spot on.

[@KisstheReviews]

LMAO...all very true. This movie was completely unrealistic, but some would say the 80s were unrealistic. Reality Bites is a better movie for sure. Thanks for the comment!

[@fmbighair]

I sniff my crush’s pillow all the time…

[@KisstheReviews]

We don’t shame here…do you. 😂

[@SGBassplayer]

It’s okay that you think it’s an awful movie (because it is), but in order to understand why it was so popular, you need to see it through the eyes of someone for whom the film was made. I was 18 when this movie came out, which means I’m one among the first wave of Gen-Xers targeted by it. The characters in the movie would have been (at least) four years older than me, putting them on the Baby Boom/Gen-X cusp; they basically represent the Old Skool definition of “white privilege”. They all come from money, they all went to a private college that Ivy League in everything but name, and (most of them) seem to gravitate to higher end white collar jobs. Your observation of their interactions and detachment from each other can be easily explained by a snippet of one of Patrick Bateman’s monologues from “American Psycho”, a non-contemporary examination of roughly the same era: “There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman. Some kind of abstraction. But there is no real me. Only an entity. Something illusory. And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours, and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable, I simply am not there.” The difference is that “American Psycho” was an ironic observation of the era, but “Saint Elmo’s Fire” was the unfolding of the era as it happened. There is no irony in these people being so self-centered and willing to overlook the genuine problems of people within their own circle; “that’s too bad”, they agree, and in the next breath they say “good thing it isn’t happening to me”. This is what Gen-X’s societal expectations were at the time, or at least what their projected aspirations were. See the David and David song “Boomtown”. This is why this movie took longer to be made than it should have; many producers agreed that no one would want to see a movie about so many awful people, but the ‘80s was a decade for awful people and “Saint Elmo’s Fire” resonated with them. Critics correctly panned the film, but the audiences loved the look of it and saw it as their own take on “The Graduate” (if I’m honest, “Risky Business” did a better job of re-telling Benjamin Braddock’s story for the ‘80s…the angle of getting into a prestigious college as opposed to having just graduated from one seemed more relevant to the time). Long story short, I’m not here to defend what even by ‘80s standards is a pretty indefensible movie. It’s worth watching for the visual appeal and for the glimpse of a generation’s entry into yuppie culture, but no one under the age of about 50 is going to find any appeal in it when they watch it today. I’m in my mid-50s and as a college drop-out it barely holds appeal as a nostalgia piece.

[@KisstheReviews]

Those are very good points! Appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@ivanb8126]

Wonderful comment. Very interesting view on the era and the movie. It was great to read it.

[@nellgwenn]

What you end up doing in this movie is going through the actors real life character arcs, because there's nothing else to do. However, to the Kevin character, OK he has some pictures of Leslie. is that the worst thing? He didn't go around stalking her. He didn't have to they did everything together. When Leslie asked about them he fessed up. And if you notice he didn't force himself on her, she's the one that took the first step. I would also say that I do think Wendy had empathy. If she didn't, why would she be working at a soup kitchen? She had all her dad's money. I guess I felt for her the most because I know what it's like to be infatuated with an asshole. At some point they do something so unforgivable you come to your senses. She didn't have that experience because Billy left town. A thought occurred to me the last time I watched it. If those characters are that horrible, what must their parents have been like? The only character that we know of from this movie that presents herself as a polar opposite of her parents is Wendy. The producers had all those young talented actors at their disposal, and they failed them with that heinous script. I'd say The Outsiders would also be a better Brat Pack pick. And I read the book countless times, and thought the movie fell way short of the book. Yet it's still a better movie than this. I did like the line "No Springsteen leaves this house. You can have all the Carly Simon albums." And I'm not even that much of a fan of Springsteen.

[@KisstheReviews]

Yeah the parents angle would have been fascinating. Wendy was the only character that had empathy. The rest were just rolling through life. Thank you so much for commenting!!

[@gabe6857]

I liked it. I related to your dislike, but it was a train wreck I couldn't look away from.

[@KisstheReviews]

It was definitely a train wreck...we probably won’t watch it again but there are plenty of movies that are not good that we can’t look away from. We get it. Thanks for the comment!

[@jasonleetaiwan]

Among bad movies, this is a more watchable one. If you can finish a movie, it can't be that bad.

[@nana_73]

I just finished this movie, after going for an 80s nostalgia. What a piece of sh*t, it's terrible, I'm glad I found a review slandering it as it should be. I get the feeling the more reviews I see/the more mistakes we'll find that just passed us by, besides the awful writing (like the 1st scene, smoking in the hospital???). Don't even get me started on that yadayadayada shit. Good review!

[@KisstheReviews]

Thank you very much!!

[@dyiphotography8076]

Keeping up with 80's nostalgia, I'd like to recommend "Some Kind of Wonderful" starring Eric Stoltz and Leah Thompson. Not sure if it stands the test of time, but I leave that up to you.

[@KisstheReviews]

It has been added to the list! I loathe that movie. It'll be cathartic to get this all out...

[@KisstheReviews]

❤️

[@amandajones7939]

I love some kind of wonderful!

[@Masterdebater1313]

I don't know if it has ever been said, but, how did Billy get into (let alone graduate) Georgetown University?

[@KisstheReviews]

😂😂😂 Best question!!

[@craigfitzpatrick1663]

This was hilarious. Sat through the film last night and couldn't believe how mesmerisingly atrocious it was. Super on-point dissection of a total dumpster fire.

[@KisstheReviews]

Thanks, man! Glad you enjoyed it and please share with your friends!

[@jasonleetaiwan]

Sheedy was cute. Come on...

[@takayasu2009]

I liked in Demi in ‘The Seventh Sign’, ‘GI Jane’, ‘A Few Good Men’, ‘The Master’ (guest-starred in the first episode) better.

[@KisstheReviews]

Yes! Agree with all of those examples. Thanks for commenting!

[@DestinyKiller]

I love The Seventh Sign

[@takayasu2009]

@@DestinyKiller I liked it, too. I also liked Demi in ‘The Wisdom’, a 1985 Cannon film starring Emilio Esteves

[@takayasu2009]

I also liked ‘Ghost’, ‘Nothing but Troubles’, and ‘We are no Angels’. She well-performed in these films.

[@DestinyKiller]

@@takayasu2009 as much as Ghost has been memed out is a good, strong movie. I think she did well in G.I. Jane with her part

[@stevemtc1]

If you don’t like St. Elmos Fire I done like you.... one of these days I’m going to see it

[@KisstheReviews]

😂

[@skylermoody3587]

I liked St. Elmo's Fire the first time I watched it but looking back, I admit it has its problems. All of the actors and actresses were great in their roles but the characters themselves were unlikable dicks. Kirby was a weirdo stalker, Billy and Jules were both irresponsible asshats (Even though I thought they looked good together tbh) and Wendy was boring and uninteresting. Alec was a hypocritical cheater, Kevin was a whiner and I agree that the "Being gay in the 80's" plot would have been far more interesting for his character than the whole "I'm in love with Leslie!" plot, and Leslie herself was just annoying to me. Overall, The Breakfast Club was a superior movie.

[@KisstheReviews]

Totally agree with everything you said! Let us know what you thought of our Breakfast Club review?

[@skylermoody3587]

@@KisstheReviews Will do!

[@DominikSobolewski]

One of the best dark comedies I ever watched in my life. People take the film too literally. It's supposed to be about "normal" college grads who are absolutely fucked up in their real lives.

[@KisstheReviews]

That’s def what it attempts to be about…😂😂😂

[@TheWaynos73]

The Crap Pack

[@KisstheReviews]

😂

[@stuffallthetime]

This movie is horrible. It is everything I hated about the 80's. The soundtrack, rock bands with saxophone players, alcohol, in person stalking, politicians, entitlement, yuppies, and cocaine. It's just horrable.

[@KisstheReviews]

Whoa whoa whoa…easy on the cocaine hate, friend. 😂

[@michellewidjaja4779]

10:02 you missed the part where the girl was telling her story about how she was kinda disappointed studying in the medical field because she started to think it was all about the money. for some reason, the guy took it as a sign that she wanted money, that it's all about money to her. he said, "so it's about money" or something like that. next scene then he showed up to her with the fake driver and all. the problem is, the girl said that in disappointment, showing that she thought it should be about helping people. the guy took it as, "ah i see you started to think the medical field is all about the money because to you it's all about the money." what a weird flex.

[@KisstheReviews]

Totally missed it, good catch! Kirby may be my most hated movie character of all time. Is there such a thing as a GOAT Of Hate? Thanks for commenting!!

[@robbie192]

This movie is so bad I always watch it. How a 21 yr old creepy (McCarthy) kid gets his article written in the front pages about the meaning of life. Kirby is creepy and a stalker and every scene is horrible...he switches majors mid week and gets a job in the meantime as a billionaire runner lol Judd is 21 but already big in the politics game lol...despite switching parties.. Take a look at the frat house where Rob Lowe visits...they can't even do a football scene right as 10 guys are all going for 1 pass... Howie is so cliche...just horrible

[@robbie192]

Watch the scene where Ally and Demi are drinking vodka at the house ..you see another arm pouring them the vodka lol

[@robbie192]

Then there is the scene where Kevin and Demi talk where Demi is convinced he is gay because he never hit on her...then sets him up w another man.

[@robbie192]

And the scene where Rob Lowe tells the Virginia his kid is better off without him lol...

[@KisstheReviews]

Thanks for the comments! This movie is really bad. I know a lot of people like it but there are too many problems with all of the characters. There are a bunch of issues with the individual scenes too. If we discussed all of them this review would’ve been as long as the movie. Thanks for watching!

[@andypeterson3070]

How about Rob and Demi's characters snogging in her car right outside his house with his wife and child inside. And he makes a real commotion there with her when she rejects him further and he takes her car keys. I mean seriously? If you're going to have a fling at least have the sense to do it some distance from where you live.

[@keithhansen4891]

Also the way the black, gay & ugly characters are treated is offensive.

[@KisstheReviews]

There was a black character? 😂 This movie is trash.

[@andypeterson3070]

It wouldn't happen in a movie made today.

[@paulcarlson754]

Gayest comment I have read all year

[@MartinSmith156]

Which is weird because the director of this film, Joel Schumacher, is gay

[@Ladylike79]

Thank you for calling out Kirby the stalker. All of the characters were annoying but I cringed every time he came on screen.

[@KisstheReviews]

The rest of the characters were awful people but Kirby should be in jail.

[@Ladylike79]

Kiss the Reviews Exactly right! I wish that I could call this movie a guilty pleasure but after I got over my teenage crush on Andrew McCarthy I never watched it again. I really enjoyed your thoughts on it; you two were hilarious and spot on as always 😊

[@KisstheReviews]

Thanks for comments! We do our best to make these reviews funny. Glad we could make you laugh!

[@Ladylike79]

@@KisstheReviews I have to add that it would be great if you guys critiqued some of the other Brat Pack movies. I would love to hear your thoughts on The Breakfast Club, Weird Science or Pretty In Pink!

[@filmgirlLisa]

I dunno, man. I guess it's easy to look at films from 90s, 80s, etc and judge it because it wasn't multicultural enough or whatever, but these were their problems. No, it wasn't about gender issues or racial issues or any of the other isms constantly highlighted today, but it was their problems and everyone's problems are real to them even if they are not on the lips of every twitter poster. Now every character has to be appropriately flawed and it makes for some really awful and completely unoriginal movies being made today.

[@KisstheReviews]

I’m not sure I see the correlation. Kirby is a stalker that we’re supposed to root for. Everyone thinks McCartney is gay and he loves his friends gf. Lowe is void of consequence or empathy and Demi is a lying party girl. While the problems are real for them, they aren’t really “problems”. The characters are inconvenienced by adulthood…which we jokingly said are white people problems. Other than that, I’m not entirely sure how this relates to “isms” or PC culture. I think we tend to romanticize those decades too much. It’s not an indictment on any of us from that era it’s just being honest. And if you listen to our show, you know we are a few miles away from PC. 😂 Thanks for the comments!

[@filmgirlLisa]

@@KisstheReviews Kirby does stalk her but once it's clear to him that she doesn't want him or is with someone else, he's over it. Not to excuse it, but he's never threatening to her / she never feels threatened by him, just a kid who can't control his emotions. I'm not sure what you're saying about McCarthy. He's in love with his friend's gf. Does that make him a bad guy? The only thing he does is tell her after Ally and Judd have broken up. Lowe is 22. Most 22 yo's are devoid of consequence and empathy. Demi is suffering from the lack of love she didn't get from her father. Trust me, missing your father's love is very very real and it's why many many women are screwed up. Being in love with someone who doesn't love you (which is the issue for both McCarthy and Mare) is a very real problem. Having the responsibility of being a father and husband when you're too immature to deal with it is also why a lot of mothers are raising children alone. And yeah, being in love with someone who can't stop cheating is a big cause for heartbreak. Again, we are tricked today by the media telling us that if the issue isn't political or racial or gender based or scientific then it's not relevant. Everyone is white. No one is trying to figure out their sexuality. No one is unable to eat. So they must generally being fine with "minor" problems, right? Meanwhile people are jumping off bridges and shooting up schools for some of these same problems.

[@KisstheReviews]

👍Thanks for commenting!