r/toastoflondon

Info:

Release: January 25th, 1985

Director: Kevin Reynolds

Music by: Alan Silvestri

Starring: Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson, Sam Robards, Chuck Bush, Brian Cesak, Suzy Amis

Studio: Warner Bros.

Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes

Rating: PG

Synopsis: Gardner Barnes is a young Texan who has just graduated from college and is unsure of what to do next. Along with his friends, collectively known as the Groovers, Gardner embarks on a road trip to the Rio Grande as a last hurrah for the group. As the trip progresses, Gardner and his buddies, including Kenneth Waggener and Phil Hicks, struggle with their impending adulthood and the looming issue of the Vietnam War.

Review: Very similar to "Stand By Me," but focused on the loss of youth rather than adolescence. That ending is such a gut punch, not knowing if they'll ever see each other again, each of the friend group goes their seperate ways as they've all been drafted for the Vietnam War. Gardner, not having the heart to face his friends, watches from a hill as he prepares to run and hide in Mexico. The movie is not without comedy though, the highlight being the skydiving scene which I would rather someone watch than have me explain it in words here. Other notable bits are when they tie the front bumper of their car to a moving train believing it will drag them along with the train, scamming an entire town to set up a wedding for their friend, and one member of the group being knocked out for almost the whole movie. He missed the trip!