The Goonies Chad'z rating: *** (out of 4 = good) 1985, PG, 113 minutes [1 hour, 53 minutes] [adventure/comedy] starring: Sean Astin (Mikey), Josh Brolin (Brand), Jeff Cohen (Chunk), Corey Feldman (Mouth), written by Steven Spielberg, Chris Columbus, produced by Harvey Bernhard, Richard Donner, directed by Richard Donner.
Filmmakers know children have the wildest imaginations and the greatest spirit of adventure, but few are able to make movies depicting that sense accurately. So what makes "The Goonies" so good is the fact it epitomizes that innocent feeling with a grand adventure all children fantasize about.
The film starts off in a lighthearted way as we see two brothers escape from prison with help from their mother. They are the Fratelli's, a bickering, bumbling family of criminals who are quite the caricatures, yet they keep with the zany atmosphere. A funny, non-violent chase scene ensues and in the process we are introduced to some of the supporting characters via cameos. Anywhere else this might seem like too strong of an opening, but Donner's pacing is breezy and fun.
Paldom and adventure always compliment each other, which is probably what makes this film so enjoyable. The first act is a believable, funny portrait of a group of pre-teenage boys known as The Goonies. First there's Mikey (Astin), the leader who believes his father is going to save the neighborhood from impending foreclosure (the reason for this is not clearly stated, and although it is a flaw, it is not entirely relevant). We also meet Mouth (Feldman), Data (Ke Hey Kuan), and Chunk (Cohen), whose nicknames reflect something about them (Mouth is the wiseass, Data is the inventor, Chunk is the fat kid). There's also Brand (Brolin), Mikey's older brother who's always pushing him around.
Right away we get a sense of reality and it's very funny as the boys are always making fun of each other, telling each other to shut up, and using curse words when adults aren't around. When they think they've found a map to a pirate's treasure they jump on their bikes and head off to find it, even though they know it could be dangerous.
Most of the film walks a fine line of plausibility, and it does a good job in its manuevering. You don't find yourself wondering if the kids really think they'll find the treasure, instead, you wonder if they'll actually get to it. There are many obstacles in their way including the Fratelli's, booby traps galore, and their struggle to work together. Sub-plots start to form such as Chunk's "The boy who cried wolf" personality and his attempt to bond with the Fratelli's deformed, almost mutant-like brother.
There isn't much here in terms of story, it's basically a trek through miles of tunnels and the encounters that ensue. The screenplay doesn't really emphasize character development per se, but the characters don't seem two-dimensional either. The movie aims to be an adventure and it does deliver on that notion, even when the attempts at suspense and comedy go overboard.
I'm not sure how I felt about the last act. Even though I was constantly entertained, the entire final segment starts to push the envelope further than necessary. The finale seems only slightly more grand than all the other adventures, and the ending itself is just plain cheesy.
It's difficult to tell if "The Goonies" is specifically aimed at "the kid in you," or if it's just an offbeat adventure. Any way you look at it, it's still innocent, funny, exciting, and original - you can't argue with that.
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e-mail: ChadPolenz@aol.com or Polenz02@morrisville.edu (C) 1997 Chad Polenz
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