Mickey’s a mouse, Donald’s a duck, Pluto’s a dog. What’s Goofy?

In honor of the film “The Spectacular Now,” which has so far received rave reviews, and also due to a couple of other great coming-of-age films that I have seen recently (“Mud”, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”), I have decided to devote my week to this theme. For this, I present the following questions: What is it that drives us to these types of movies? Why do we love seeing a kid make mistakes, learn, and grow up; even after we have passed this stage of life?

The answer is that of nostalgia. In seeing kids go through the types of things that we once went through, we remember that part of our childhood. We may not have gone through the exact same scenarios, but we still remember feeling that same teenage-to-adolescent angst. And we may have lost that innocent love of life, when summers were the greatest thing; when the world once seemed an infinite place of opportunity and adventure. We can face adulthood tomorrow; for now, let’s enjoy the sunshine.

The Rob Reiner film “Stand By Me” is a classic example of this. In this movie, four boys set out to find a body in the woods, in order to report it to the police. Along the way, they end up getting almost run over by a train, get coated by blood-sucking leeches, and face an unfortunate altercation with some older bullies. But, by the end, they decide to not even report the body to the police, and instead leave an anonymous call.

The entire film could be seen as a metaphor for this journey from childhood to becoming an adult. Along the way, they had adventures, shared deep conversations, learned about themselves, and became closer as friends. But, ultimately, they had to accept the inevitable: they will one day become adults, and although they might not feel that spark of life they once did as kids, and though they might not always be as close; at least they can still appreciate the quieter moments. Remember the deer scene?

Though it premiered back in 1989, “Stand By Me” is still as relevant today as it ever was. And I haven’t even touched on the vast volume of coming-of-age tales that have appeared since then, before then, and even today, as can be seen with “The Spectacular Now.” These films bring a sense of adventure, of childhood innocence, and of a remembrance of a time that, for many of us, has since come and passed. But, at least for a little while, we can go back there, we can revisit the world, and we can journey through those woods once again. Such is the power of the movies.