Movie Review: Stand By Me

There is something about movies made decades ago, isn't there? Stand By Me reminds me of that old song by Ben E King, and the many versions that followed that all-time classic.

 
Stand By Me has just the right nuances of friendship, a journey, and life lessons to make you watch it with a feeling of nostalgia. The movie is based on the story "The Body" in Stephen King's 1982 collection, Different Seasons. There are no screaming guns. Just a bunch of kids as they take their own little road trip of a lifetime, in the process uncovering some truths about themselves, and the meaning of friendship. Narrated by Gordie (Will Wheaton) after the death of a friend, he talks of how he and his 3 other friends who at the age of 12 go in search of the dead body of a boy presumed missing. That makes you think the story has a dark or sinister element to it. But it is not. The boys, Gordie, Vern, Chris, and Teddy come from a little town called Castle Rock. Each of them have a troubled family life. Gordie and Chris share a closer bond in the movie. Lying to their parents, they set off on a day long hike into the woods to discover the Brower kid's body. All four of them have easily identifiable personalities. Gordie is the serious writer with an air of melancholy about him. Vern is the 'fat' one who is always the target of their jokes. Teddy has an ear burned off by his father, who the town says is in the 'loony bin,' and Chris is the one who you would want as a friend - the one who stands by you. Always. And believes in you. 

As they make their way through the woods, they learn that danger lurks on the tracks. They evade trains that come screaming through them - and always, someone is there to help the other out of a potentially life-threatening situation. To me, these are the precious little episodes that mean the most to me. It might seem like a series of capers from boys who should know better. But each scene in this movie is rich with nuanced meaning. Rich with messages. And possibilities and discovery. From fighting off leeches to angry men with dogs, they stick together. Yes, that does sound cheesy. But what's wrong with cheese? It's not unrealistic. It's just a little snapshot of life. Maybe not as we know it, but no one said movies have to stay true to what we go through.

Lifeometer: Up, up, and away.

You can buy the DVD at Stand by Me