There are certain movies that hit the fun and turmoil of growing up squarely on the head, never delving too deep down the mopey well, but knowing it has something to say on the process of transitioning out of childhood. Stand By Me is one of those films, because it balances the deeper insights with some humorous, crazy stuff. And to know the film was based off a Stephen King story... well, it may not be surprising over twenty years since its release, but it shows that the man has something to say, that he can do more than genre fare. Rob Reiner's film is a wonderful adaptation of the source material, treating it with respect, but embracing the filmic nature of the medium. He sheds light on Gordie, sure, but he also remembers there are three other characters that need development, and we get them subtly throughout. Chris, Teddy, and Vern are all wonderful characters, and because they are all so important to Gordie's growth, it is important that we understand why. Stand By Me is based of Stephen King's The Body, and it is that body, as much as the four of them, that is responsible for their coming-of-age.
The script is tight and draws heavily from the novella it is based upon, and leads to classic moments like the Barf-o-rama, the leech attack, and Kiefer Sutherland's unnerving performance as Ace, among others. As the gang travel to find the dead body of a boy hit by a train in the woods, they face a number of trials that proves to test them, alluding to a far more dangerous adult world than they might have known. Which is hard to say, with each of them with their own fair share of troubled childhoods.
In terms of acting, the young kids hold the movie together well, so adults watching can focus more on the story of the process of growing up, and less on the fact that some of the actors are not holding up their end. Luckily, everyone does an incredible job, credit due to River Phoenix, Kiefer Sutherland, and the whiny, chunky Jerry O'Connell. Not to say Corey Feldman and Wil Wheaton don't do a good job, but they are slightly out-shined. And they can all handle the comedy as well as the drama, be it the hijinks of guarding their camp at night or the somberness of finding the body itself. Also, there is the whole thing with the deer, which is as stereotypically deep as the film goes, and because it is brief, the scene is welcome.
Genre - Drama (4)
Screenplay (4)
Acting (4)
Production (4)
Directing (4)
