Stand By Me Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1986

Stand By Me is a coming-of-age story about four twelve-year old boys that set out on an overnight adventure through the woods of Oregon to locate the body of a boy recently killed by a train, since in their minds discovering the body will bring them fame and money. But along the way they discover much more than a body… they discover a sense of their own mortality, the power of friendship and the maturity that comes with a transition into manhood.

Stephen King is known as one of horror's best and most prolific horror writers, so it may come as a large surprise to many watching Stand By Me that the movie was an adaptation of a King novella entitled The Body. This story/film is anything but a horror flick – it's a sincere and touching look at the adventure of four childhood friends as they overcome tribulations both physical and mental.

Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton) is a boy that feels virtually invisible among his family. His mother and father were always fonder of his recently deceased older brother and they never made an attempt to shield that fact. Gordie doesn't receive love or recognition from his parents; instead he is asked why he cannot be more like his older brother. While Gordie did have a deep relationship with his brother, upon his passing he lost the only true family he had.

Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) is a good-hearted kid that lives in the distasteful shadow of his father, a petty criminal and dreg of society. Although Chris wants people to judge him individually and fairly, he's always pigeonholed by society as a troublesome punk from a family of losers.

Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) is a boy that has lived a hard life and harbors a lot of inner anger and resentment due to this past. When he was younger his father tried to kill him, pressing his ear into a hot stove and permanently disfiguring him. Although his father was carted away to the asylum, Teddy is left trying to pick up the pieces of his life.

Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell) is an unpopular kid that managed to find friendship with the above trio of outcasts. Although his family life is fairly normal, he's overweight, sensitive and a bit cowardly – qualities that like-aged boys respond to mercilessly.

When Vern overhears talk of a boy recently killed by a train deep in the Oregon woods, he shares this information with his friends, who then decide that discovering the body first would gain them much fame and recognition. If they could bring the body back to town, they would become heroes.

With that simple and somewhat childish motivation they set forth on overnight trek through the woods of Castle Rock, Oregon, experiencing hardships such as a mean junkyard dog, a murky pond filled with leeches, a pack of town bullies led by the menacing Ace Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland) and a near collision with a train. As they overcome these hurdles they also develop a better sense of self and the world around them.

Many, if not most, coming-of-age stories such as the above suffer from over-dramatization and sentimentality, but Stand By Me deftly avoids that. It's a touching story of friendship that is grounded in reality rather than cinematic cheese or overkill. As we watch the foursome's journey it takes us (particularly males) back to a time where children find themselves on the cusp of becoming teenagers - a time where childhood and the transition to maturity often clash, and friendships mean everything.

Director Rob Reiner perfectly captured the feelings and doubts of adolescence, and he brilliantly guided the young actors through their roles. As for the actors themselves, they were perfect casting choices and they lent flawless performances. While watching Stand By Me you will be thoroughly convinced of the children's deep friendship and emotional turmoil. They also capture the quirky behaviors of the age surprisingly well. At no time does it appear they are acting; we are thoroughly drawn into the realistic world.

Stand By Me's setting (the 1950's), characters and particularly its realistic portrayal of childhood will always remain relevant, making it a timeless classic that will live on through the decades. Anyone looking for a touching, but not sappy, drama will be sure to love this film.

Movie rating: 9 stars

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