St. Elmo’s Fire - 25 Years Later

I nearly fell off my chair when I read the date the movie came out: 1985. Fug! When did THAT happen? (Dare I sound like my parents, “where did the time go?”)

I haven’t seen the film in about as many years, even thought it’s omni-present on TV reruns. Actually, I didn’t WANT to see it for fear it would change the perception I have about the film. You know, it always seemed better when you were a kid... bigger, faster, more delicious. But I watched it over the weekend and enjoyed it.

The movie itself? Watching it again I can see what I connected with originally, the friendships, the drama, the high camp (Demi Moore is a hot mess!). I laughed my ass off at the clothes and the hair this time around too. I remember being in LOVE with Judd Nelson’s hair (but not his nostrils). I’d forgotten, however, that many of the individual stories are tied up too nicely at the end of the film. And Emilio Estevez’s character Kirby should have been in jail for stalking Andie MacDowell.

Back when I first saw the movie I thought of all the Brat Pack, Andrew McCarthy should be a huge star. He was in “Pretty in Pink” - good - “Less Than Zero” - great - and “Mannequin” - oops! Hollywood can be so cruel. Here’s a scene how I’ll remember him:

What I really remember about the movie is mixed emotions about friends, growing up, and moving on in life. But one thing is for certain, I’m buying this on Blu-ray!