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Watching Jake carry his saxophone everywhere, just draped around his neck without a case, feels like a mix of charming and awkward—much like the entire vibe of the ‘80s! At the Halloween bash in St. Elmo’s bar, his yellow tank top adorned with bats makes him look like he’s playing the sax with his chest.
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When Wendy’s mother mentions “cancer” in hushed tones, it’s a stark contrast to the humor that follows when a guest at the table queries about where Billy met Wendy, leading him to quip “prison.” Rob Lowe was comedic gold before his West Wing days!
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Emilio, in an attempt to connect with Andie, asks the operator for an “emergency breakthrough.” It’s wild how that phrase hasn’t crossed my ears in over two decades.
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Bangles were apparently a staple of ’80s fashion. Demi looks like she’s wrapped in a cascade of Slinkys!
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If I had to choose between Andrew, Judd, and Jake in a Marry, Boff, Kill scenario, my married fortysomething self would definitely opt for Andrew to marry and boff. The other two? Let’s just say they’d be in a “keep the Teen Beat pics but maintain distance” category.
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Fast forward thirty years, and that scene with Jake and Demi in the Jeep comes off as a tad… uncomfortable. Throwing a woman’s keys down your pants? Really?
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I hope these characters didn’t leave Georgetown riddled with student loan debt.
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Where has Demi’s voice been hiding? It echoed through the ’80s and was iconic enough to deserve a rewatch of Ghost, too.
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Mare’s character seems to be bundled in layers upon layers of clothing—seriously, was the costume designer going for the ultimate cardigan-and-prairie-skirt look? Bonus points for her shapewear; who wants Jake to go exploring under a skirt only to find bike shorts?
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Andie in her jeans and off-white fisherman’s sweater totally set my fashion standard for the next decade.
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It’s puzzling how, when Emilio shows his stalker side, Andie’s boyfriend at the ski cabin is shockingly welcoming and even insists on snapping a photo.
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When Ally and Judd break up, they have to split their vinyl collection. “Don’t take the Pretenders,” he snaps, while she claims Thriller and Mahler’s Ninth. I can’t help but think that copying MP3s doesn’t carry the same emotional weight.
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The best line in the film has to be: “There’s the brink of insanity, and then there’s the abyss.” Who hasn’t felt that during their post-college years?
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How could anyone resist Andrew? When he finally confesses his love to Ally, declaring, “Oh, I love you, I’ve always loved you,” is that not the epitome of romance? Why doesn’t she choose him?
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Jake’s decision to step away from his newborn daughter is just heart-wrenching.
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Demi’s apartment is an explosion of pink. “Very subtle,” Andrew quips, while her flamboyant neighbor drinks pastel cocktails—because, you know, that’s what gay folks were like in the ‘80s!
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Why on earth would Ally even consider Judd over Andrew?
Reflecting back on my first viewing in the ’80s, I remember thinking how exciting it would be to be 22 and hoping to get into Georgetown. But now, as I watch in 2015, I realize: being 22 is tough. I just want my kids to find their way into good colleges.
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In summary, revisiting ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ reveals a mix of nostalgia and a more critical lens on the relationships and societal norms of the time. The film offers a humorous yet poignant reflection on youth, love, and the complexity of growing up.