St. Elmo's Fire

  • Review Date: August 22, 2005
  • R
  • Genre: Drama
  • 1985
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Soapy 20-something friends saga isn't for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to 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.

  • Issues 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.
  • A few fist-fights, a scary moment when one threatens to drop another off a fire escape.
  • Discreet nudity in several love scenes, frank discussions of sex .

What's the story?

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.Social worker Wendy (Mare Winningham) gets constant pressure from her rich father to marry and join the family business. She has 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 way out of his league. Despite their difficulties and rivalries, they prove to be good friends, a job that requires skill and patience, which cannot be learned in school.


Is it any good?

 

Written and directed by Joel Schumacher, St. Elmo's 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.


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What families can talk about

Families can 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?


This review was written by Ellen Twadell
Teen, 14 years old
August 9, 2011
 
3.5 stars. It's pretty good, but I would have titled it THE BREAKFAST CLUB 2, The TV edit I saw was pretty graphic, but I'm rating that.
My rating: PG-13 for sexual references/content, strong language, drinking and some violence.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
June 28, 2010
 
SHOULD BE G
S*x, Language is covered on TV-PG's TV LAND. ummmm - it's rated "g" for a reason.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
June 28, 2010
 
SHOULD BE G
S*x, Language is covered on TV-PG's TV LAND. ummmm - it's rated "g" for a reason.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 11 years old
June 28, 2010
 
SHOULD BE G
S*x, Language is covered on TV-PG's TV LAND. ummmm - it's rated "g" for a reason.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
September 1, 2009
 
good for 13+ may have some iffy stuff for younger kids
love this maovie an 80's classic!!! not bad compared to todays Rs. several scenes in bars,some drugs, it shows a little sex,but not to bad

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
July 27, 2010
 
It is edited to "G" (0+) and "PG" (parental guidance suggest depening on age), but PG-13 for a reason. (for 13+)
should not be 16+ and the iffy for 15 NOT! (takes a deep breath ... then) off for 2-14+, iffy for 15-15 and on for 16-18+ i think it would be rated R (PG-17) for no reason, i say it's off for 2-7+, iffy for 8-9+ and on for 10-18+

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 14 years old
July 27, 2010
 
It is edited to "G" (0+) and "PG" (parental guidance suggest depening on age), but PG-13 for a reason. (for 13+)
should not be 16+ and the iffy for 15 NOT! (takes a deep breath ... then) off for 2-14+, iffy for 15-15 and on for 16-18+ i think it would be rated R (PG-17) for no reason, i say it's off for 2-7+, iffy for 8-9+ and on for 10-18+

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 11 years old
July 27, 2010
 
It is edited to "G" (0+) and "PG" (parental guidance suggest depening on age), but PG-13 for a reason. (for 13+)
should not be 16+ and the iffy for 15 NOT! (takes a deep breath ... then) off for 2-14+, iffy for 15-15 and on for 16-18+ i think it would be rated R (PG-17) for no reason, i say it's off for 2-7+, iffy for 8-9+ and on for 10-18+

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
May 9, 2010
 
Good
good, but please put it to "no way" for children for ages 17 and under, put "on the fence" for 17-18 and put "won't miss it" on anyone 18 and up.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 12 years old
May 19, 2010
 
no kids
Violence = Not an issue. S*x/Drug/Alcohol Use or Cigar(ettes)/Language = not an issue, some dr*g abuse. Consumerism = Not an issue. Messages/Role Models = None

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Ellen Twadell
Studio:Columbia Tristar
Director:Joel Schumacher
Cast:Demi Moore, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe
Genre:Drama
Run time:110 minutes
Theatrical release date:June 28, 1985
DVD release date:July 3, 2000
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:language and sexual content

This review was written by Ellen Twadell
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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