Common Sense Note
Parents should know that sex and relationships play key roles in the plot of this film. While the love-making scenes are respectful and discreet, there are some frank discussions about sex in the film. Scenes feature strong language, infidelity, acts of violence, and a suicide attempt. Characters sometimes drink in excess and behave badly as a result. One character has a cocaine problem that her friends address.
Families who see this movie could talk about the struggles of adulthood. Parents could offer unique insights about entering "the real world" in their post-school days. What kinds of responsibilities come with entering the workforce? How can the support of friends affect one's ability to develop into an adult?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Ellen Twadell
ST. ELMO'S FIRE follows the trials and tribulations of seven recent Georgetown grads struggling to build careers, maintain relationships, and transition into full-fledged adults. Each character has his/her issues. Wendy (Mare Winningham) is a social worker who receives constant pressure from her wealthy father to marry and join the family business. She nurtures a crush for Billy (Rob Lowe), who has troubles of his own, in the form of a wife, a child, and a string of affairs. Billy accepts help from shrewd Alec (Judd Nelson), a Capitol Hill high roller, who sells-out to advance his career. Alec has trouble staying faithful to his girlfriend, down-to-earth Leslie (Ally Sheedy). Leslie offers comfort to out-of-control Jules (Demi Moore) and offers guidance to Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), who secretly harbors a crush on her. Kirby (Emilio Estevez), a waiter at the gang's hangout, St. Elmo's Fire, actively pursues a young lovely doctor (Andie MacDowell) who is completely out of his league. Despite their difficulties and rivalries, they prove to be good friends, a job that requires skill and patience, one that cannot be learned in school.
Written and directed by Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys, Veronica Guerin) ST. ELMOS FIRE, is a mediocre attempt at recreating the success of earlier "Brat Pack" films such as The Breakfast Club, Class, and Pretty in Pink. Riding on the coattails of The Big Chill, the film is unsuccessful in eliciting audience identification with its stock characters. From untamable bad boy Billy to poor little rich girl Jules, the film's narrow types provide nothing new to this already beaten-to-death genre.
Families that enjoy ST. ELMOS FIRE might like Reality Bites, a 90s update on the post-college drama, that features the difficulties of maintaining friendships and making career decisions, in the "real world."
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentDiscreet nudity in several love scenes, frank discussions of sex . |
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ViolenceA few fist-fights, a scary moment when one threatens to drop another off a fire escape. |
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LanguageOccasional strong language. |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorIssues of infidelity in relationships, an unflattering view of welfare recipients, a father gives up care of his baby, characters fight, one attempts to force romantic attentions on another. |
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Commercialism |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoExcessive drinking with consequences, a character frequently uses cocaine on-screen. |
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