Review of St. Elmo's Fire (1985) by Johnny T — 13 Nov 2011

''St. Elmo's Fire'' falls midway between ''The Big Chill'' and ''The Breakfast Club.'' Its characters are old enough to enjoy the first flushes of prosperity, but still sufficiently youthful to keep their self-absorption intact. But soon enough, they will be forced to give up their late-night carousing at a favorite bar and move on to more responsible lives. In the film's terms, which are distinctly limited, this will mean finding a more sedate hangout and learning to go there for brunch. A telling look at the confusions and challenges facing seven friends who have recently graduated from the same college. The most unusual actor in the cast is Emilio Estevez, whose very pugnaciousness is so crazily intense it lends itself to comedy. The film also represented a graduation of sorts, as Estevez, Sheedy, and Nelson portrayed high school students in John Hughes's THE BREAKFAST CLUB earlier in 1985.

VERDICT: "Full Price" - My second highest rating (Positive to Mixed reaction). This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent.