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Standing Up
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Standing Up
Theatrical release poster
Directed byD. J. Caruso
Screenplay byD. J. Caruso
Based onThe Goats
by Brock Cole
Produced by
  • Geyer Kosinski[1]
  • Alexander Rodnyansky[1]
  • Ken Aguado
Starring
CinematographyAlex Nepomniaschy
Edited byJosh Bodnar
Music byBrian Tyler
Production
companies
Distributed byARC Entertainment[1]
Release date
  • August 16, 2013 (2013-08-16)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Standing Up (also known as Goat Island) is a 2013 American coming-of-age film written and directed by D. J. Caruso and starring Chandler Canterbury and Annalise Basso. It was based on Brock Cole's 1987 young adult novel The Goats.

Plot

[edit]

Two children, Howie (Chandler Canterbury) and Grace (Annalise Basso), are stripped naked and left stranded together on an island as victims of a vicious summer camp prank. Rather than returning to camp to face the humiliation, they decide to take off on the run together. Grace does not know how to swim, so she holds onto a broken tree branch as Howie swims across the lake.

They are soon washed onto a shore near a cottage. Howie goes to the lake and spots three men headed toward the shore in a boat. He decides to take a camera and a notepad to keep track of everything they steal in order to return it to its rightful owner along with an explanation of why it was taken. They continue on their journey and encounter a group of teenagers partying and drinking near a beach. Howie grabs some money out of one of the trucks, much to Grace's disapproval. They take a break on a family beach where they purchase a hot dog and a bag of chips. They also devise a plan to steal some new clothes. As they are walking through town later that day, they spot one of their camp counselors handing out pictures of them to the locals as well as the police. They get on a bus that is rounding up a group of children for a different camp.

Their cover is almost blown when two girls Tiwana (Alexus Lapri Geier) and Lydia (Deidra Shores) confront them about taking their seats; however, Calvin (Adrian Kali Turner) convinces the girls to take other seats. Once they arrive at the camp, Howie and Grace attempt to run away, but Calvin and Tiwana catch them and convince them to spend the night at camp. Tiwana and Calvin befriend and defend Howie and Grace during their time at camp, and Tiwana makes Grace promise to call her mother (Radha Mitchell).

The next night, Howie and Grace manipulate their way into a hotel room. The following day, they decide to hitchhike their way back to camp. Unfortunately, they encounter shady sheriff's deputy Perry Hofstadder (Val Kilmer) who lies to them and locks them in his truck. When he gets out to make a phone call, the children try to drive away. They go in the wrong direction and are forced to jump off a cliff into a lake. Grace again calls her mother who reveals the truth about Howie, saying that he's in foster care and they later get disconnected. After the phone call, Grace tells Howie that he could stay with her but he doesn't believe her and he tells her that he doesn't need her and they get into a fight. Howie confesses to her that he wanted them to live together in the woods like Indians and Grace suggests that they can head downriver and that he teaches her how to swim and she thanks him for everything and they hug. Grace's mom arrives at a honey stand that the kids were at with a police officer and the owner tells her they headed up the road, where she and Grace reunite as Howie watches in the distance.

Later that fall, when Grace is back home, she receives a package from Howie containing a letter and pictures of their time together. She says that Howie was adopted by a family in Connecticut, yet they still keep in touch, having seen each other the next summer to see cut-out people at a museum and going to NASA instead of going back to camp.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

A long-time passion project for DJ Caruso and Ken Aguado, who had both read the acclaimed novel in the early 1990s, Caruso began adapting the novel in 2000 when he and Aguado became partners in Humble Journey Films. It took another 12 years for Aguado and Caruso to find the funding the get the film produced. Made for $4 million, the film was given a limited theatrical release in August 2013.

Music

[edit]

The score for the film was composed by Brian Tyler, which marks his third collaboration with Caruso, following 2008's action thriller Eagle Eye. The soundtrack was released on September 24, 2013, by Varèse Sarabande.

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Standing Up Main Theme"4:15
2."Grace"1:18
3."High Jinx"1:56
4."Forever and Back"2:57
5."Adventure Through the Woods"2:33
6."Momentum"4:07
7."Sunrise"3:04
8."Motel Sell"2:57
9."Connection"1:54
10."Affirmations"3:46
11."Adrift in Memory"1:57
12."The Getaway"1:54
13."We've Gotta Go"2:21
14."Howie's Secret"2:45
15."Officer Not So Friendly"2:35
16."Empathy"2:29
17."Finale"5:15
18."End Titles"1:57
Total length:45:60

Reception

[edit]

Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, reports that 56% of nine surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating is 5.8/10.[2] On, Metacritic, it has a score of 40/100 based on five reviews.[3] Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Annlee Ellingson called it a "sanitized version of The Goats" that lacks humor or risk-taking.[4] Writing for entertainment trade publication Daily Variety, Peter Debruge said, "Based on Brock Cole’s controversial young-adult novel “The Goats,” this low-budget passion project from “Eagle Eye” director D.J. Caruso offers a practical solution to the issue of adolescent bullying, as its two young protags respond to a case of vicious hazing not with despair or retaliation, but through teamwork and character-building."

Accolades

[edit]
Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result
2014 Young Artist Award[5] Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film Chandler Canterbury Nominated
Best Leading Young Actress in a Feature Film Annalise Basso Nominated
Best Supporting Young Actor in a Feature Film Justin Tinucci Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Standing Up

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Standing Up (also known as Goat Island) is a 2013 American coming-of-age film that follows two socially awkward preteens who, after being targeted by a cruel at , flee into the together on a path of self-discovery and tentative friendship. Written and directed by , the film adapts Brock Cole's 1987 young adult novel The Goats, which depicts a similar story of isolation and resilience among camp misfits. Receiving a on August 16, 2013, it stars as the introspective boy Howie and as the resilient girl Grace, with supporting performances by as Grace's mother and as Deputy Sheriff Hofstadder. Running 89 minutes, the movie explores themes of , identity, and budding independence through the protagonists' three-day adventure, blending elements of adventure and emotional without resorting to overt sentimentality. Critically, it holds a 56% approval rating on based on nine reviews, praised for its young leads' authentic portrayals but critiqued for familiar tropes in its anti-bullying narrative. The film's score was composed by , and it was produced by AR Films, Aldamisa Entertainment, and Seven Star Pictures, emphasizing a low-key, character-driven approach over high-stakes action.

Background

Literary basis

The film Standing Up is adapted from the young adult novel The Goats, written by Brock Cole and first published in 1987 by . Cole, an and known for picture books like The Giant's Toe, crafted this as his debut novel for older readers, targeting ages 8-12 with a blending adventure and psychological depth. At its core, the novel follows two ostracized teenagers—a shy boy named Howie and a girl named Laura—who become victims of a cruel annual prank at , where they are stripped and marooned on a small island dubbed Goat Island. Their subsequent escape to the mainland tests their resourcefulness as they navigate woods, encounter varied adults, and confront their insecurities, highlighting themes of isolation, budding resilience, and the harsh dynamics of peer cruelty in . The received widespread acclaim upon release, earning selections as an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Editors' Choice, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. It has since been regarded as a modern classic in . While the novel maintains a darker, more introspective tone focused on the characters' emotional turmoil and the world's indifference, the film adaptation takes a more uplifting approach, emphasizing hope and connection to appeal to a broader . Director , drawn to the story's themes of outsider resilience, wrote and directed the to bring this source material to the screen.

Development

The development of Standing Up began in the early when director , a longtime admirer of Brock Cole's 1987 young adult novel The Goats, secured the adaptation rights and committed to the project as a personal passion endeavor. Over the ensuing decade, Caruso meticulously crafted the himself, transforming the story of two ostracized summer camp children into a coming-of-age tale emphasizing resilience and self-discovery. By 2011, the script was finalized, marking more than ten years of intermittent work amid Caruso's commitments to larger studio films like Disturbia and I Am Number Four. Key producers assembled to shepherd the project included of AR Films and Geyer Kosinski of Media Talent Group, who handled principal production responsibilities. Executive producers such as Ken Aguado, John McAdams, Sergei Bespalov, and provided additional support, drawing on international partnerships to secure indie-level financing. The collaboration with Rodnyansky, a prominent Russian , was partly inspired by the film's themes and helped facilitate funding through a broader $120 million slate for U.S.-based projects announced around the same time. Originally titled The Goats after the novel or Goat Island to evoke the prank's isolated setting, the film underwent title revisions during to better capture its uplifting tone, ultimately settling on Standing Up to highlight the protagonists' . Produced on a modest low-budget scale suitable for its intimate scope, the project prioritized character-driven storytelling over spectacle, enabling a lean operation that commenced in Georgia in October 2011.

Cast and characters

Casting

The casting process for Standing Up (2013), directed by , emphasized finding young actors capable of conveying vulnerability and emotional depth for the film's themes of and self-discovery. Caruso conducted a nationwide search for performers described as "old souls" to portray the child leads, prioritizing those who could grasp the story's nuances beyond typical youthful portrayals. Chandler Canterbury was selected as Howie, the 11-year-old protagonist, after a relatively swift process originating from ; at age 14 during filming, he brought prior experience from family-oriented projects such as Little Red Wagon (), an inspirational drama based on a true story of childhood activism. , cast later in as 12-year-old Grace, had appeared in family films including Bedtime Stories (2008), a with , and the Hallmark TV movie (2009); her personal connection to , stemming from experiences related to her red hair, added authenticity to her audition. The overall selection for the leads took about 16 weeks, with auditions focused on demonstrating chemistry and the ability to handle intimate, dialogue-driven scenes. Supporting roles were filled by established actors to provide contrast and guidance to the young leads. Radha Mitchell was cast as Meg, Grace's mother, bringing her experience from dramatic roles in films like Melinda and Melinda (2004). Val Kilmer portrayed Hofstadder, a deputy sheriff, marking a return to character-driven work following high-profile projects such as The Doors (1991); additional announcements included Kate Maberly as Margo Cutter. These choices were announced progressively during pre-production to build ensemble balance. The sensitive subject matter, including a bullying prank involving implied , presented challenges in casting minors, requiring assurances of age-appropriate handling to maintain the film's tone. Caruso ensured that high-risk elements, such as a cliff-jumping stunt, used doubles, while daily filming was limited to five hours to accommodate schooling and welfare regulations for child actors. Both leads delivered performances noted for their maturity, with the production completing 105 pages of script in 18 days in Georgia.

Roles

The central protagonists of Standing Up are Howie, an 11-year-old shy and bookish boy who is intellectually inclined and often withdrawn due to his outsider status, and Grace, a 12-year-old girl who is more outgoing and resilient yet frequently targeted for her nonconformity. These two misfit children, both social outcasts at , develop a budding friendship that highlights themes of mutual support and shared vulnerability without relying on typical peer dynamics. Supporting characters include Grace's overworked single mother, , who embodies parental concern amid professional demands, and Howie's absent parents, who are archaeologists on a dig abroad, leaving him without support during the camp experience. Camp counselors, such as the director Mr. Russell, provide adult oversight in the camp setting, while antagonists like the bully and other peers such as Peyton List's character represent the peer pressures that isolate the protagonists. The roles draw from the novel's archetypes of misfit children, emphasizing young individuals who defy through inner strength and unexpected alliances.

Production

Filming

Principal photography for Standing Up took place primarily in 2011 over an intensive 18-day schedule, during which the production covered 105 script pages at a pace of approximately six pages per day. The film was shot in rural areas of Georgia, USA, including Clayton at the base of the Smoky Mountains and Lake Chatuge in Towns County, selected to authentically represent the story's summer camp setting amid natural forests and lakes. Director employed a hands-on approach, personally operating handheld cameras to capture intimate, documentary-style shots that enhanced the emotional closeness between the young protagonists. This technique, combined with a small crew and meticulous pre-planning of shots, allowed for a pure, old-school experience despite the tight timeline. Filming presented challenges due to the involvement of child actors and , who appeared in nearly every scene and were restricted to five hours of work per day to accommodate schooling requirements. Sensitive sequences, such as the prank where the characters are stripped and abandoned in a lake, required careful oversight; the actors performed some s safely, but riskier elements like jumping from rocks into water were handled by stunt doubles using cables for protection.

Music

The original score for the 2013 coming-of-age film Standing Up was composed by , a prolific composer renowned for his work on action-oriented projects including Iron Man 3, Now You See Me, and . Adapting his style to the film's more introspective narrative, Tyler crafted a soundtrack that blends orchestral elements with subtle electronic touches to underscore the protagonists' journey of self-discovery. The score was recorded with the and emphasizes emotional depth through lyrical string motifs and piano-driven passages, while incorporating adventurous rhythms to evoke the story's themes of exploration and resilience. Key musical themes in the score highlight the characters' emotional growth and budding adventures, exemplified by the expansive "Standing Up Main Theme," which features soaring brass and strings to represent hope and determination, and "Adventure Through the Woods," a dynamic cue with percussive drives and woodwind flourishes capturing the thrill of the unknown. Other notable tracks include "Grace," a tender piano-led piece reflecting vulnerability, and "Forever and Back," which builds from intimate acoustic guitar to full orchestral swells symbolizing enduring bonds. The complete score album, comprising 18 tracks totaling approximately 50 minutes, was released digitally and on CD on September 24, 2013, by Varèse Sarabande Records. In addition to Tyler's score, the film incorporates several original songs performed by cast members and supporting artists to enhance its period-appropriate, youthful atmosphere. Representative examples include "The Pain of a Broken Heart," written by Larry Brewer and Paul Doege, which plays during moments of heartbreak; "Don't Hang Up," penned by Larry Brewer, underscoring a pivotal phone ; and "Hold Me Now," contributing to scenes of tentative connection. These tracks, integrated seamlessly into the narrative, avoid prominent licensed pop songs, focusing instead on compositions that align with the story's intimate tone.

Release

Theatrical release

Standing Up was released theatrically in the United States on August 16, 2013, by ARC Entertainment. The film received a , reflecting ARC Entertainment's strategy to prioritize a targeted rollout before expanding to digital platforms shortly thereafter. This approach was designed to reach family audiences with its PG-rated coming-of-age narrative centered on themes of resilience and . Marketing efforts focused on promoting the film's anti-bullying , with official trailers emphasizing the protagonists' journey of overcoming a cruel prank at and standing up for themselves. The campaign highlighted the story's inspirational elements to appeal to parents and young viewers, positioning it as a drama. While primarily distributed in the U.S., the film saw a delayed release in select international markets, such as on September 24, 2015.

Home media

The home media release of Standing Up began on August 20, 2013, with a Walmart-exclusive edition featuring both DVD and Blu-ray formats in a combo pack that also included a redeemable via Vudu. The physical releases offered standard-definition video on DVD and high-definition on Blu-ray, with audio in 5.1. Special features on the discs included a featurette with cast and crew interviews, a "Making of Standing Up" segment featuring director and the young leads, and the theatrical trailer. Digitally, the film became available for video on demand (VOD) starting on the same date, August 20, 2013, through platforms like Vudu, allowing users to stream or download the movie. Over time, it expanded to additional streaming services, including (formerly Angel.com) for subscription viewing, as well as free ad-supported options on and . Rental and purchase options remain accessible on Fandango at Home (Vudu) and similar digital retailers. As of 2025, no 4K Ultra HD upgrades or significant re-releases of the physical media have been issued, with the original 2013 editions still available through secondary markets like Amazon and . Streaming availability has trended toward faith-based and family-oriented platforms, reflecting the film's themes, though specific sales figures for home media units sold are not publicly detailed in industry reports.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Upon its release, Standing Up garnered mixed reviews from critics, who appreciated its exploration of but often found it formulaic and insufficiently nuanced. On , the film holds a 56% approval rating based on nine reviews, with an average score of 5.8/10. On , it received a weighted average score of 40 out of 100 based on five critics, reflecting "mixed or average" reception. Reviewers commended the film's sensitive handling of adolescent bullying and the strong performances by its young leads, as Howie and as Grace. described it as "a mildly inspiring if familiar tale of adolescents standing up to ," praising and Basso for their "earnest, affecting performances" that convey resilience amid vulnerability. Similarly, called it an "insightful, frank look at how two kids survive ," highlighting the leads' chemistry in building mutual confidence. Roger Ebert's site noted the film's focus on "the meaner parts of kids’ treatment of kids... , and the enforced ritual of survival tests," crediting the child actors for driving its emotional core. Critics frequently faulted the adaptation for diluting the darker elements of Brock Cole's source The Goats, resulting in a lack of depth and an overly sentimental tone. observed that the story, drawn from a with apparently darker undertones, emerges as a "children's oriented feel-good tale" whose script "occasionally veers into heavy-handed territory." characterized it as a "mildly entertaining family film" that "never manages to achieve any dramatic steam, plodding along in mildly inspirational mode" without fully exploring its themes. Variety acknowledged a "practical solution to the issue of adolescent " through .

Box office

Standing Up received a very limited theatrical release on August 16, 2013, resulting in negligible performance. Produced on a $6 million budget, Standing Up proved to be a commercial underperformer, unable to recover even a fraction of its costs through receipts alone. This underwhelming result stemmed from constrained efforts and the film's niche appeal as a coming-of-age drama targeted at younger audiences, limiting its broader commercial viability.

Accolades

The film Standing Up received three nominations at the 35th Young Artist Awards in , an annual ceremony honoring outstanding performances by young actors in family-oriented films and television. was nominated for Best Performance in a – Leading Young Actor for his role as Howie. earned a nomination in the Best Performance in a – Leading Young Actress category for her portrayal of Grace. Additionally, Justin Tinucci received a nod for Best Performance in a – Supporting Young Actor as Butch. The film did not win any awards at the ceremony.

Cultural impact

The release of Standing Up in 2013 coincided with heightened awareness of youth during the , a period marked by widespread anti-bullying initiatives in schools across the . The film's depiction of peer and emotional resilience aligned with educational programs aimed at fostering and intervention among students, contributing to broader conversations on preventing childhood . As an of Brock Cole's 1987 young adult novel , the film preserved the original story's core message of through unlikely friendships and personal growth amid adversity, making it relevant for contemporary audiences navigating similar social challenges. This updated the narrative for a , emphasizing themes of standing against without resorting to aggression, thus extending the novel's influence into visual media. In the years following its release, Standing Up has seen renewed interest through streaming availability, particularly on platforms like , where it became accessible to guild members starting in late 2024, facilitating rediscovery by families and educators. This digital presence has supported its role in ongoing discussions of coming-of-age experiences tied to bullying recovery. Media analyses have highlighted the film's sensitive portrayal of , such as the psychological aftermath of , though scholarly examinations remain limited. These observations underscore its contribution to understanding the long-term effects of peer victimization in youth narratives.

References

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