Stand by Me (1986)

Stand by Me

• I had no idea the extent that this movie goes. I knew a couple little things about it, but not enough to know what the actual plot was. I was expecting a carefree journey between a couple kids, which is kind of what this was. But, it’s so much deeper. It’s about self-discovery, sharing personal stories, and learning to build and grow by yourself, as well as off of other people. There’s absolutely nothing like the friends you have when you’re twelve, like the movie points out at the very end. For me, the movie brings back fun memories of my own childhood, so it’s easy to relate to the characters and their mishaps. I really liked the four main boys and the portrayals of their characters. Each one has their own personality and characteristics. I enjoyed seeing River Phoenix and Corey Feldman, as well as Scream 2’s Jerry O’Connell. They were all a joy, and I took something from each of them. The soundtrack was good, with some classic songs from the 50’s and 60’s. It fits the mood of the movie beautifully.The story was also intriguing, and the writing was brilliant. The blend of physical adventure with the emotional drama was perfect. Both are highlighted, while still being mixed together. There are definitely some corny moments, but that’s to come in every 80’s movie. My last thought is that I love the runtime. It’s less than 90 minutes, so the movie jumps right into it, and wraps up right when you’ve seen everything. Overall, this movie is absolutely fantastic, and one I’ll definitely be watching again soon. I’d recommend it to all adventure/drama fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!