Review of Stand by Me (1986) by Liam U — 29 Apr 2011

Stephen King's semi-autobiographical novella "The Body" was published in 1982 alongside three other short stories. Proving that horror is not all he is capable of writing, this is a tender coming-of-age story about four friends and their quest to see a dead body. Directed by Rob Reiner, who wanted to tackle something a little different after working on 'This Is Spinal Tap (Reiner, 1984)' and 'The Sure Thing (Reiner, 1985)', this nostalgia-seeped trip down memory lane is wonderfully brought to life. A tale of innocence lost, Reiner sticks relatively close to King's story, coaxing brilliant performances out of a young cast while guiding the story off the railroad tracks and into hearts and minds.

Key to the success of 'Stand By Me (Reiner, 1986)' is the casting of the four leads. The film centers around Gordie (Wil Wheaton) - he has become a ghost at home, his parents ignoring him as they struggle to cope with the death of their son and his older brother, Denny (a relatively young John Cusack). Gordie is the member of the group who pulls them all together, and undergoes quite a transformation on the journey.

The leader of the group is Chris Chambers, (a superb River Phoenix). Never given a break, he is all too aware of the fact he is doomed to stay within the confines of their town, Castle Rock. Phoenix displays a wealth of emotion as he obviously cares for each of the group members, but shares a particular connection with Gordie. One particularly emotionally-driven scene features Chris and Gordie discussing their futures, both actors bringing an emotional gravitas to their roles that is rarely seen amongst actors of their age.

Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) is the third member of the group, a loose cannon who is prone to putting his life at risk. He is the big-mouthed trouble-maker with a loony for a father, who he idolises for storming the beaches of Normandy. After his first feature film role in 'Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (Zito, 1984)' and followed by excellent supporting roles in 'Gremlins (Dante, 1984)' and 'The Goonies (Donner, 1985)' Corey Feldman made his name in some classic and iconic 80s movies. He brings a likeable quality to the roles he tackles, which is somewhat subdued here although you can't help but feel for the kid.

Finally there is Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell), the blundering fool of the group, often teased and yet equally essential to the group dynamics as any of the others. Vern kickstarts the journey, and provides some light comic-relief along the way. The bonds between the kid actors is evident on screen as they follow the train tracks or camp around a fire discussing the sort of things young boys talk about - "the kind of talk that seemed important until you discover girls." The dialogue feels very natural, with the kids speaking how kids actually speak - a rarity in film.

The sun soaked late-1950s is realised excellently, and although Reiner may see the era through rose-tinted spectacles, this doesn't detract from the film at all. The soundtrack is simply sublime, utilising familiar tunes which aid in evoking a sense of nostalgia. The dead body may be the goal of the journey, but the real essence of the story is the group coming closer together, experiencing the life-altering moments where you realise adults can't be trusted, the world isn't black and white, and leeches on your balls suck.

Told largely through flashback, the film is bookended by a grown-up Gordie, played by Richard Dreyfuss. The film isn't niave enough to believe that the friends you have as kids, those who share those moments together that seem so important, are the same friends you'll have in decades to come. All four members of the group have drifted apart, and upon learning that Chris was killed, Gordie is left to reflect on those years when little else mattered. Those were the days, sincerely.