"I'll get this out of the way right at the start. Stand By Me. There, I said it. From the poster art to the central dynamic of the leads, the comparison to Stephen King's era-defining coming-of-age movie is as inevitable as it is unfair. Rounding First - written, directed and edited by Fleigner - is a very different beast to Stand By Me, however heavily the accompanying promotional material leans on that film, and should be viewed as such. So let’s be clear... Yes, the film features a group of young friends from Smalltown USA. Yes, the film deals with the bonds of friendship and the loss of childhood innocence in a similar way, and yes, the fat kid is the butt of many of the others jokes. But beyond that, Rounding First is a respectable feature in its own right, with a charm all of its own.

Rounding First is a fiercely independent film, with Fleigner relying heavily on the goodwill of his many sponsors to bring this labour of love to the screen. It's an impressive feat, with the writer-director's infectious enthusiasm for the project garnering support from businesses and individuals keen to see a return to solid, personal and story-driven independent film-making. The film follows the story of twelve-year olds Joe (Soren Fulton), Tiger (Matt Borish) and Chris (Sam Semenza) in the summer of 1980 as they break out of baseball camp and follow Joe's parents to discover the true nature of the mysterious trip they're taking. The events that follow lead them on a quest that takes in detective work, armed robbery, family feuds and an eventful road trip leading to an emotional climax that tests the true strength of the bonds of friendship.

The young leads (who between them already boast an impressive list of stage and screen credits taking in Frasier, Oliver Beene, The Sopranos and Beauty & The Beast to name a few) handle Fleigner's self-penned script with aplomb, which balances some of its more sentimental aspects with school-kid banter and a few cheeky 80s pop-culture references for good measure. They are ably aided by a supporting cast who create a believable parental community where family pride comes first, and incidents of the past are hidden from those they affect the most, fostering a bitterness and resentment that is only ever a drink or two away from breaking free.

The film's independent roots are clear, and there are points where the dialogue and direction feels more like a stage play, but much of this is down to our over-familiarity and reliance on the superficial polish a lot of mainstream productions coat their stories in. In Rounding First the characters and the unfolding events of their lives are the focus of the film, and this is its strength. Take the opportunity to give this film your time and you'll be rewarded with a very personal take on the coming-of-age movie, and a diverting account of the lasting strength of friendship." - DoYouRemember.co.uk

Originally reviewed at www.DoYouRemember.co.uk