“Goonies never say die!”
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Synopsis:
Teenage misfits try to save their neighborhood from redevelopment by searching for hidden pirate treasure.
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Response to Peary’s Review:
When I was in the fifth grade, this popular movie had just appeared in theaters, and was all the rage among my peers. My teacher took a few of us to see The Goonies as a reward for good behavior, and so my memory of the film is inextricably bound with images of my stern but loving teacher, Mrs. Bradford, picking us up and dropping us off in her mini-van, and spending one of her precious weekend days with her students. We were required to write a short review of the film afterwards, and as part of this activity I remember analyzing the movie poster, which included an image not shown in the film. I was mystified about this, and, looking back, consider this to be the beginning of my realization that movies are constructed rather than born whole, and that what you see in an advertisement isn’t always what you get.
I recently rewatched The Goonies as an adult, and can understand why Peary has little good to say about it in his review. The movie is derivative, manipulative, annoying, and hopelessly clichéd — yet I can’t help remembering how exciting I thought it was as a kid, and this colors my impressions even today. Indeed, it’s now a cult classic, with special midnight showings where fans recite lines verbatim. After all, what kid among us didn’t wish that he or she could make new friends and go searching for buried treasure behind their house? How could creepy villains, booby-trapped caves, and the possibility of endless gold coins fail to excite? As a DVD Verdict reviewer (see link below) describes the film: “For the uninitiated it is a mystery. For the fans it is a classic.”
Redeeming Qualities and Moments:
- Many exciting adventure sequences
- Truly eerie-looking character actors
- A rocking Cyndi Lauper song
Must See?
Yes, simply for its cult status as a classic 80’s adventure flick.
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Posted on August 21st, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews
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