STAND BY ME

Directed by Rob Reiner, and staring Wil Wheaton, River Pheonix (omg) Corey Felman, Jerry O'Connell and Kieffer Sutherland.
Based on the novel "The Body" by Stephen King.

I feel a bit left behind but I had never seen this film, heard what's its about, known who was in it OR that it came from a novel....Pathetic, I know.
I was quiet (happily) shocked when I saw that River Phoenix was in it. I know how he had died outside the Viper Room, but sadly I don't know ANYTHING else about him... and now I am frantically googling him because I am now in Love with him.
If he looked that gorgeous at that age,(14??) what would he have looked like now.. drewl ! and more importantly, what roles would he have played? How great would he be now? .... Sigh we will never know.

The movie itself, well I almost expected more to happen.
I wanted the foretelling of the body he had seen at 12, to be someone other than the obvious body that they were searching for, or for them to have more challenges getting there... its just seemed too simple.
I accept that it is more about the journey of young men learning about themselves and the friendships that they have. But it didn't make me to happy. (maybe because I cannot relate as I am female)

And also, the ending- where Chris dies by a knife to the neck in a burger joint, after becoming a lawyer and turning his life around - is told in the most matter-of-fact way and there is not really anything further..
Did the Director Run out of time? or just didn't want to go into too much detail as it was a touchy subject...
Very Sad indeed...

I enjoyed the movie but I am going to have to say that River is more memorable. I'll be ooooggling his many talents before I watch this film again.