Stand by Me

Based on the Stephen King short story -The Body, Rob Reiner's easygoing nostalgia piece is set in Castle Rock, OR, over Labor Day weekend, 1959. A quartet of boys, inseparable friends all, set out in search of a dead body that one of the boys overhears his brother talking about. The foursome ...more

A likable film punctuated by standout performances, Stand by Me is an interesting variation on the standard coming-of-age period film. Based on a short story by Stephen King, Stand by Me deals with preteen concerns instead of teen ones. Director Rob Reiner successfully keeps the nostalgia and sentimentality in check; and he places a remarkable amount of faith in his young cast. Of the four leads, River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton deliver sensitive, complex performances which belie their age. Jerry ...more