The zen genius of Andrew McCarthy

St. Elmo's Fire isn't the most intellectual movie of the 80s. But it's no "Road House" either. And much of what makes the movie still special today to so many fans of the decade are the quippy lines of Andrew McCarthy, the lovelorn cub-journalist who spins many a yarn on the perils of the heart.

All I Need To Know in Life, I Learned from Andrew McCarthy:

• "There is the brink of insanity and then there is the abyss."
• "Never trust a woman who says she isn't angry."
• "I enjoy being afraid of Russia. It's a harmless fear, but it makes America feel better, Russia gets an inflated sense of national worth from our paranoia."
• "Love is an illusion created by lawyer types like yourself to perpetuate another illusion called marriage to create the reality of divorce and then the illusionary need for divorce lawyers."
• "Marriage is a concept invented by people who were lucky to make it to 20 without being eaten by dinosaurs. Marriage is obsolete."
• "Used to be sex was the only free thing. No longer. Alimony... palimony... it's all financial. Love is an illusion."

In reality, many of McCarthy's best one-liners are lifted from Merle Kessler of the comedy troupe Duck's Breath Mystery Theater. Kessler created a fictional critic named Ian Shoales, who over the years spouted his wisdom in media outlets including NPR's "All Things Considered" and MTV's "The Cutting Edge," according to IMDB.com. However, the writers of St. Elmo's Fire give a special thanks to Duck's Breath during the movie's credits.

This week's podcast -- ta-dah -- is on St. Elmo's Fire: Click here to download this week's show or click here to subscribe to the whole series for free on iTunes. Do it now because as Andrew McCarthy says, "Forever got a lot shorter all of a sudden."

Comments

[Marissa]

I'm listening to this podcast late in the game, I know. However, I must comment anyway.
icky icky McCarthy! he is creepy freaky when he's making any attempt at being sincere or romantic. Those eyes are just bizarro! I'm with Cathy on this one. ewwwwy
I thought he did well in Weekend at Bernie's! That's about it. acky pooh, creepy weirdo eyes!

[babs]

yeah, I know it's wicked cheesy, but in this movie, I'm going to have to admit that I still crush on Andrew McCarthy. I saw it in college and I think it's the only movie that I really have a crush on him in. And yeah, I know he's being a pseudo-intellectual. I just re-watched Class and it's still funny. It's like Separate Peace, but happier.

[Steve Spears]

I think Cathy would have to be Baker-Act'ed if we told her we were doing a McCarthy podcast. She has very violent feelings toward him.

However, I'm all in favor of it!

[Erin]

I would love to see a podcast just on McCarthy.
Swoon.

[David P]

Does anyone know if Rob Lowe has gotten a restraining order against Sean Daly yet? Such anger!

[Cathy]

One other point I forgot to bring up:
Can anyone explain Andrew McCarthy's wardrobe in this movie? He's always wearing that red plaid shirt with the camouflage pants. I'm not saying that journalists are fashion plates, but give me a break!

[Andy Fan]

Yes, yes, the movie is ridiculous. I was the one who called it a guilty pleasure in the first place. But it's where I fell for the man. All my friends went to see it because of Rob Lowe, and I came out of it with a life-long crush on Andrew. Sigh.

[larry b.]

I must say McCarthy is pretty irritating in most movies but this one takes the cake. He plays a budding intellectual as ridiculously as Lowe plays a wildman party animal.

[Carla]

I haven't heard the podcast yet, but am looking forward to it. I have to admit, being a 15 or 16 at the time (can't remember what year it came out) and having a huge crush on Rob Lowe, I'd have to say, at the time I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this movie. But as an adult... it's lost something for me. Guilt Pleasure... yes! I still enjoy watching it once every few years!

[Spears]

The only paper that a young journalist would be able to pen a piece of crap like that for would be the Georgetown Weekly Shopper. ... maybe.

Sean and Cathy are currently going through anger management workshops, which they must complete before doing another podcast.

[Douglas Arthur]

Sounds like I had the great sense to avoid this one when it came out. :)

[bassnote]

Boy...I could feel the anger in the room on this podcast. Back in the 80's I kind of liked this movie, but having seen it again within the past year, I agree with Sean and Cathy; it's a piece of crap. I said overrated in your last blog about this, but I want to change it to just plain bad.

[chase]

Yay, great flick ... vastly underrated.

One of the funniest parts, however, is how Andrew McCarthy, as a young, upstart journalist, gets to pen a front page Washington Post article on "the meaning of life." ... oh, spare me :-)