Stand By Me (1986)

	Directed by: Rob Reiner	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama NORWEGIAN TITLE Venner for livet RUNNING TIME 89 minutes
	Produced by: Bruce A. Evans Raynold Gideon Andrew Scheinman
	Written by (based on a novella by Stephen King): Bruce A. Evans Raynold Grideon

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Gordie Lachance	Wil Wheaton
Chris Chambers	River Phoenix
Teddy Duchamp	Corey Feldman	½
Vern Tessio	Jerry O'Connell
The Writer	Richard Dreyfuss	-
Ace Merrill	Kiefer Sutherland	½
Billy Tessio	Casey Siemaszko	-
Charlie Hogan	Gary Riley	-
Eyeball Chambers	Bradley Gregg	-
Vince Desjardins	Jason Oliver	-
Denny Lachance	John Cusack	-

Review

Tender nostalgia is interspersed with an ever-present hint of dramatic complacency in this nevertheless pleasant 1980s classic. This was the first non-horror adaptation of the works of Stephen King, and perhaps this explains some of its contemporary adulation – for once we were spared the cheap horror effects and tacky antagonists. Well, not quite. Kiefer Sutherland and his gang are there to fill the latter quota; they are obvious precursors to the greasy 1950s gang in Sometimes They Come Back. Still, the time travel back to 1959 which director Rob Reiner takes us on is filled not only with nostalgia but also with acquaintance and insight. As we join our four 12-year-old protagonists on their two-day adventure to recover the body of the missing kid Ray Brower, we get to experience that peculiar 1950s combination of ignorance and worldliness. The four lead actors all display talent, albeit in different measures and latitudes, but they’re all well cast and create the necessary bond together to make the movie’s buddy dynamic work.