STAND BY ME. Directed by Rob Reiner; written by Raynold Gideon and Bruce A. Evans; produced by Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon and Andrew Scheinman for Columbia. Starring Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O'Connell. Rated R (language).
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Stand by Me is about 12-year-olds but its intended audience is more likely to be the parents of kids this age. The R rating is a tip-off that this is a grown-up movie. But it still would be, even if the language were cleaned up to PG-13 level.
The movie is a nostalgic look, if also a somewhat brutal one, at how a man of 40 remembers his 12th summer. It crams too much philosophy and world-weary wisdom into its likeable young characters. And their speechifying may taint Stand by Me for some viewers.
But the actors do such an outstanding job, both individually and as an ensemble, that I have to give it a "thumbs up" in spite of its faults.
Gordie (Wheaton), Chris (Phoenix), Teddy (Feldman) and Vern (O'Connell) are buddies who set off to find the body of a missing boy the whole area has been searching for. They figure if they're ones the who find it—and they're pretty sure they know where to look—they'll be the town heroes. Maybe their luck, which up to now has been none too good, will change.
An adult Gordie, who narrates the story and is nicely underplayed by Richard Dreyfuss, admits he's obsessed with finding the body. But the object of the quest actually becomes less important as it goes on. The journey, and the adventures the boys share along the way, is the main story of Stand by Me .
In spite of their difficulties (no one remembers to bring food, for example), they have a wonderful time, and they let the audience tag along on their lark. Wheaton has the most important role and he keeps our attention very well. In spite of some stiff competition from his colorful costars. Teddy and Vern are a great pair of pre-teen misfits—a little pathetic but mostly fun to watch.
Chris has majored in philosophy at the school of hard knocks, and is given a lot of unbelieveable lines to say. But Phoenix (can this be his real name?) is an appealing actor and Chris somehow survives as an okay guy in spite of what the script sometimes has him saying.
Keep an eye out for all four of these actors in the future. Phoenix, who was in last year's disappointing Explorers, and Feldman, who has Goonies and Gremlins to his credit, are the two more experienced performers. But Wheaton and O'Connell have done lots of TV.
Stand by Me does have a few other things going for it besides the acting. For one thing, it has the greatest score of 1950's music since American Grafitti. This might even be enough to recommend it, especially to my contemporaries, who should remember, and love, nearly every song on the track.
And there are several scenes that are quite well-written and filmed. My favorite involves a train, a long trestle, and poor, slow Vern.
But if you see Stand by Me, it should be because of the performances. In spite of its slow pace and tendency to wordiness, these kids will engage your imagination, your sympathy, and probably your memory, as well.
NOTE: this movie made my 10-best list for 1986.
September 3, 1986