The film’s visuals are striking, as is typical of Joel Schumacher's work. The settings really pop and don't distract from what the characters are doing. *St. Elmo’s Fire* isn’t a movie that relies on humor, and there's not much in the way of an actual story. It feels more like a look at a group of young adults starting out with their careers and personal lives. The music fits well; it was certainly appropriate for the era. Andie MacDowell and Andrew McCarthy both deliver good performances, even though Andie’s character doesn't have many lines. Emilio Estevez and Judd Nelson try their best with what they have, and while they aren’t bad, these actors have previously shown greater range—perhaps they simply needed stronger parts. The rest of the cast seems to be going through the motions, but that might just reflect what the script demanded; if so, they handled it adequately.

Source on TMDB