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May 28, 2015DaisyCosh rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of my favourite Stephen King adaptations, "Stand By Me" is a coming-of-age film based on the short story "The Body." It chronicles a summer's day in the life of four friends, Gordie (played by Wil Wheaton), Chris (played by River Phoenix), Teddy (played by Corey Feldman), and Vern (Jerry O'Connell). They set out to find a dead body located in a nearby town hoping to receive fame and fortune in return. At the heart of "Stand By Me" is the significance of young friendship. Chris is the protagonist Gordie's best friend. When Gordie has an emotional breakdown out in the woods, Chris gives him space and keeps his other two friends at bay. When Gordie needs encouragement to do the best he can in school in order to get out of their hometown, Chris cheers him on. He won't let Gordie fall through the cracks, a fate that Chris feels sure he himself won't escape because of his sullied family name. Chris stood by Gordie, and Gordie never forgot him. He's still reminiscing about their friendship decades later. "Stand By Me" is filled with funny moments, like when forgetful Vern buries his jar of pennies under the porch and then loses the map. They're sweet and innocent moments that make you smile. As entertaining as the film may be, there is a great deal of sorrow in "Stand By Me." One of the main characters lost a brother and two have abusive alcoholic fathers. Additionally, the dead body they're looking for is of a boy their own age. There's tragedy all around them, but they don't get bogged down; they rise above it. There's many iconic moments in this classic film, but the greatest scene, in my opinion, comes when they're crossing a bridge towering above the lake, only for a train to come barrelling towards them. They sprint to cross it, but simply don't have enough time. Your heart is racing the whole scene; you'll never forget it. If I had to find a weakness in this otherwise solid take on boyhood friendship, I think it's the campfire story Gordie tells to his friends. I know it's supposed to show what a good story-teller Gordie is, but it feels out of place with the tone of the rest of the film. But this is a one-off. In the end, "Stand By Me" leaves me feeling bittersweet, considering the epilogue that tells you what becomes of each of Gordie's friends. This is the kind of film that will make you value your friendships more than ever.