Andrew McCarthy in St Elmo’s Fire is one of the most beautiful boys to appear on the 80s screen. He’s no Lloyd Dobler, he’s nowhere near as strong or clearheaded/clearhearted/anti-80s.
As I rip clips from St Elmo’s Fire for Love Sounds, I realize McCarthy’s lovelorn, nervy Kevin declares “love sucks” so many times in the film that I can’t tell if the pronouncement is a leitmotif–of heartbreak–or simply an oversight in the schmaltzy, corporate script.
Is this an excess of fidelity to love or carelessness? In any case, I’m always drawn to slightly guarded people who protect their hearts not because they don’t feel love, or because they are selfish, but because they feel love so deeply.
I didn’t just love this boy when I saw him onscreen, I was/I am this boy.
