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We move deep in to summer and kick of a new marathon as we discuss one of our favorite genres, the coming-of-age story. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at films narratively set in different decades to see how the genre has evolved. We’re kicking things off with the beloved classic from Rob Reiner, Stand by Me. 

Won’t You Stand by Me

We kick off the Growing Up in Summer marathon by delving into the quintessential coming-of-age film. It’s not the first, and it may not be the best, but it is probably the most widely known. In many ways, it has defined the genre since its release. The story, based on the Stephen King’s novella The Body, sees four boys take off on a journey to see a dead body. Set in the last summer of the 1950s, Stand by Me contains many of the trademark beats of a King story and is brought to life by a dynamic group of kids—River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Wil Wheaton and Jerry O’Connell. With it being a first time watch for Dalton, the question that stands is, “How well does it hold up?”

We talk at length this week about masculinity, Rob Reiner, acts of violence, the genre itself and what makes Stand by Me a landmark. But, before all of that, we play our game. This week, we talk about our favorite Stephen King adaptations. We also give quick reviews and decide if the movie goes on the shelf or in the trash.

Sounds like the trains a comin’, let’s get off these tracks.

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Thanks for joining us for our review and analysis of Stand by Me! If you haven’t yet, you can connect with us through our various means of social media. Hit us up and let us know what you like and what you don’t like. Also, it would mean a lot if you left a review on iTunes or Stitcher after you finish subscribing.

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