Stand by Me

Stand By Me (1986) Director: Ron Reiner Cast: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, Cory Feldman, Keifer Sutherland
Memorable Quotes: "I was 12 going on 13, the first time I saw a dead human being."

Stand By Me is the ultimate coming of age movie for kids moving from childhood to the teenage years.

The Plot of Stand By Me
Based on a Stephen King novella, Stand By Me follows a four boys on a search for their morbid version of the Holy Grail -- the search for a dead body rumored to be just off the railroad tracks just outside of town. Our main character, Gordie (Wheaton) is an author in the making, is the pivot point for the movie. He is accompanied by a motley group of friends (Phoenix, O'Connell, and Feldman) as the make their trek. And as in all heroic journeys, the main characters must face obstacles, both external and emotional. The external obstacles consist of cross many miles and gang of older teen hoods led by a psychopath named Ace (Sutherland). The internal enemies are doubt, grief and the transition of going from being just kids to young men.

The Performances and Direction of Stand By Me
In less able hands than Director Reiner, Stand By Me could have been a very maudlin movie, but he keeps the movie from fall into the pit of pathos as we follow the boys on the journey. The leads all handle their roles well. Wheaton acquits himself well, but Phoenix stands out in his role. Those that have followed O'Connell's career in movies (Scream 2) and TV (Crossing Jordan) won't recognize him in this role. Sutherland hits all the right notes as the menacing Ace.

Summary Judgment on Stand By Me
There are moments where the acting and story teeters toward pathos, but the screenwriters, director and actors don't allow those moments to fall over the edge. Stand By Me is a movie for a universal moment in a kids life and it resonates well in capturing that time in our lives.