Stand by Me (1986)

 Stand by Me (1986)

Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me is a wonderful, inspiring coming-of-age drama. Do not expect this film to be like a Disney film as it truly earns its R-rating. But you know, Reiner captures the essence of the teenage spirit. Humans, especially teens, curse all the time. Thankfully, Raynold Gideon’s screenplay is incredibly realistic when it comes to depicting teenage friends with different personalities. I cried, I laughed, and I embraced the film. Although I was not yet born when the film was released, nostalgia hit me like a train. I was reminded of my own childhood and in particular could relate to the movie’s main character, Gordie.

 

The film was adapted from Stephen King’s novella “The Body.” The film’s title was changed because it felt like the name of a raucous comedy or a horror film from King himself. Rob Reiner came up with the title and it stuck. King himself believed this is the first work of his that was adapted to the screen the right way. Everyone knows the debacle that was Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Luckily, King fell in love with movie and he cried. Very high praise! The film was almost cut from production. Adrian Lyne was set to direct, but he wanted to take a vacation, so he was unavailable. Once Reiner took over, the film rights were sold to Columbia. It only wasn’t until the film was screened for the head’s daughters that he finally decided to produce the film.

 

Even though the book focused on four teens, Reiner made the decision to center his focus on Gordie, the quiet and sensitive kid who feels uncomfortable in his own skin. The movie then details his experiences with his three friends. Gordie was instantly relatable for me. I was that kind of kid growing up. I loved going on outdoor adventures with my buddies, and we would go on similar quests. Ah, this movie made me look back so fondly on these memories of mine. Reiner said he felt like Gordie too especially growing up in the shadow of his more famous father, Carl Reiner. Reiner previously directed the sweet comedy The Sure Thing, but he truly embraces his own spirit in this feature.

 

Gordie Lechance (Richard Dreyfuss) is a successful writer. One day while reading the newspaper, he stumbles upon a story about the death of one of his dear friends. The audience then takes a trip down memory lane as he remembers the adventures that his younger self (Wil Wheaton), Chris (River Phoenix), Teddy (Corey Feldman), and Vern (Jerry O’Connell) took in the summer of 1959. The children hear of a body hidden in some Oregon woods, so they try to find the body so they can be heroes. The main bully, Ace Merrill (Kiefer Sutherland) also has plans to find the body and will try to stop the children. As they go on their adventures, they will learn and develop some important lessons about friendship and life in general.

 

When choosing the cast, Reiner wanted to find actors that closely resemble their characters and he succeeded especially considering the body of work they produced over the years. Wheaton with his nerdy sensitivity, Phoenix with his cool, tough persona, O’Connell with his humor, and Feldman with his withdrawn, emotional attitude. The four actors were great and the chemistry they exhibited is realistic. You got the feeling that they were actually friends. Sutherland made a terrifying antagonist especially with his knife skills. As for cameos or mini roles, keep your eyes peeled for Richard Dreyfuss and John Cusack as Gordie’s older brother.

 

Did you know that this movie revived interest in Ben E. King’s hit 1961 song, “Stand by Me?” It certainly did. The songs chosen fit the atmosphere and nostalgia factor very hard. If you want a proper coming-of-age tale that has not been watered down, this is it. Cussing and violence are shown throughout, but isn’t that just part of the realistic way of growing up? At least for us normal kids? This film showed Reiner’s growth as a director as he came into his own. Stand by Me is a film that is poignant, inspiring, and should be seen by all generations.

 

My Grade: A