Growing up is tough, but somehow magical as well. Stand By Me is about four friends who set out on what is most likely going to be their last adventure together before reaching junior high and going their separate ways. Of course they don't know this at the time. They're just a bunch of kids who want to see a dead body. The trip there is a doozy though, and in more ways than one. On top of finding themselves in some crazy and even dangerous situations, these youngsters must come face-to-face with some of life's hard truths as well as the first taste of their own mortality. It's some pretty heavy stuff. Especially with the likes of the already world-weary at the age of 12 River Phoenix and the forgotten by his own parents Wil Wheaton leading the way. It's not all gloom and doom though. In fact, Stand By Me is much less dreary than the Stephen King novella "The Body" that it's based on. There are plenty of comedic moments stemming from the kind of silly, risky hijinks and vulgar banter that could only come from a group of young males. It's got all of the original story's heart, and none of it's occasional mean-spiritedness. What it doesn't have is good child acting. While I'm sure it was fine for the era, unless people are just watching it now through rose-tinted glasses, nobody is really going to view these youngsters as the crème de la crème at that point in time, despite them all growing up to be much more talented. Luckily, their genuine devotion to the material and strong direction from Rob Reiner ensure that none of the emotion is lost. It's the kind of movie that will bring back fond memories of childhood friends and the time you spent with them. You'll be nostalgic for the fun, mystery, and even the heartbreak of youth. An effective drama that will reach the kid in you by getting in touch with the adult who more fully understands the real reasons these kids are struggling with their lives in a way one just can't at that age. It has the power to make you laugh and maybe even cry. In a way Rob Reiner has made it possible to feel like you're going along with the kids onscreen. To me, it's worth putting up with the poor acting and low-budget production in order to experience something like that.