Starring: Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland
Chris, Gordie, Teddy, and Vern go on a journey to find the body of missing local, but end up discovering much more than what they bargained for.
Stand By Me is a classic film that tells a tale about four young men preparing for the next life level of being a teenager. Each boy, Chris Chambers, Gordie Lachance, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio, has their own dysfunctional backgrounds, which motivates the flaws we see in them; however, just as each young man shows off their wild side, they also invite the viewer into their inner circle where their emotions and sensitivities rest.
Rob Reiner directed Stand By Me in 1986. This film is based on the Stephen King novel, “The Body”. It was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe, and also has earned another eight nominations and three wins. This movie holds such high status due to the rollercoaster ride through emotions it drags you through. Not only does it tickle your sense of humor and make your eyes tear, but it also holds sentimental value in the sense that everyone can relate and reminisce back through their childhood memories.
Stand By Me is told in flashback. It opens with a man discovering the loss of his childhood best friend, before it flashes back a few decades earlier to the man’s pre-teenage years. We learn that the four main characters are close friends, and invent the idea of going on a hunt to find the body of a missing kid their age. Through this expedition, we learn about each boy’s upbringing.
Gordie Lachance is the main character, as well as the narrator. He is the man we see in the opening scene of the movie, who we eventually associate as being a writer creating a book from this childhood story. Gordie lost his brother to a jeep accident shortly before the story takes place. We witness through random flashbacks how Gordie’s parents completely cherished his older brother as their pride and joy, allowing no time or attention for Gordie. Needless to say, his parents find it impossible to overcome the tragedy, and spare Gordie even less affection and acknowledgement than before. Ironically, Gordie has an aptitude to write, but the only people who can see it are his brother and his best friend, Chris Chambers.
Chris Chambers stands out in his group of friends as being the sagacious leader, but the community notes him for his notorious last name and family history of deadbeats and drunks. As a result of having unruly relatives, Chris was never really given a chance to release the potential charm he possesses. Perhaps through his rough upbringing consisting of numerous occasions of physical abuse from his drunken father, Chris has developed a solid sense of courage and strength. Besides this, Chris seems to grasp the brutal percipiency of life and reality. He knows where he stands in the large world, but this does not stop him from using his sensible mind to survive.
Teddy Duchamp shares Chris’ pain when it comes to parental physical abuse. He even wears the truth on the side of his head, thanks to his father almost burning his ear off on the stove. Teddy’s father is notorious for his loony, war-like attitude, and even the locals find familiarity in the last name. Perhaps these qualities were slightly passed on to Teddy and can justify his own crazed and reckless behavior. His combat boots and camouflage clothes reveal his devotion and passion to be in the army. Teddy acts his own age and even admits it in between army references. His vulgar wisecracks, curious mind, and penchant for dodging trains give him the edge many lack.
Vern Tessio is presented to us as the voluptuous comic relief, also known as, “the fat kid”. There is one in almost every film, and Vern reminds us of his special role in numerous scenes throughout the film. Whether he forgets the secret knock at the tree house, or drops his comb through the train tracks, he can still end his day with a heads-up penny and a smile. Although Vern is not the brightest of the bunch, he still fits in the group with perfection. Not only is he the comic relief for the audience and the other characters, Vern and his innocence reminds us all of their age and intentions. Vern delivers a classic quote that highlights his personality, along with the Stand By Me movie poster hanging in my bedroom. “If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life...that’s easy. Pez. Cherry flavored Pez.”
This film is a classic that will forever be remembered by those who have been given the opportunity to watch it. For some, it will open minds to the reality of society’s influence and judgments on social class, friendship, and overall life. For others, it will enforce vivid flashbacks of the good old days when a “buck-and-a-half of hamburg” fed four boys.
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