The Goonies
National Film Registry
Rent/Purchase
Young teen Mikey Walsh and his friends set off on a quest to find Pirate One-Eyed Willie's treasure in hopes of saving their homes from demolition. However, on their quest to find the treasure, they run into a family of recently escaped criminals, determined to capture the kids and reach the treasure first.
What critics thought
Critics in 1985 were broadly but not unanimously positive, agreeing that the film works best as a breathless, kinetic ride — and that it loses something the moment it slows down for sentiment. The sticking point was age-appropriateness: several reviewers noted that the energy and charm land squarely for children and nostalgic adults, while anyone outside that target may find it grating or hollow.
“some kind of minor movie miracle takes place, and The Goonies gets its act together as the kids stop trading wisecracks and get closer to finding their long-lost pirate treasure, thereby to help save their parents' homes. Only then do we accept The Goonies for what it is—a funny juvenile windup toy about kids in perilous, comic-book situations.”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“a dangerous Disneyland sort of a film stamped with the Steven Spielberg style of high fun. Like other Spielberg summer extravaganzas, pic is a roller coaster ride best enjoyed as it's speeding along. Once it stops to consider the sacred state of adolescence, it becomes painfully syrupy.”
Variety
“an artfully crafted movie, thrumming with energy and sometimes wit, and utterly uninvolving for anyone over the age of 12.”
Paul Attanasio·The Washington Post
“The Goonies I was unable to enjoy because of a bunch of kids yelling and screaming all the way through. Not the audience, the actors.”
Colin Greenland·White Dwarf
Genres
Adventure, Comedy, Family
Cast & Crew
DirectorRichard Donner
StarringSean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green
ComposerDave Grusin
The Goonies
National Film Registry
Young teen Mikey Walsh and his friends set off on a quest to find Pirate One-Eyed Willie's treasure in hopes of saving their homes from demolition. However, on their quest to find the treasure, they run into a family of recently escaped criminals, determined to capture the kids and reach the treasure first.
What critics thought
Critics in 1985 were broadly but not unanimously positive, agreeing that the film works best as a breathless, kinetic ride — and that it loses something the moment it slows down for sentiment. The sticking point was age-appropriateness: several reviewers noted that the energy and charm land squarely for children and nostalgic adults, while anyone outside that target may find it grating or hollow.
“some kind of minor movie miracle takes place, and The Goonies gets its act together as the kids stop trading wisecracks and get closer to finding their long-lost pirate treasure, thereby to help save their parents' homes. Only then do we accept The Goonies for what it is—a funny juvenile windup toy about kids in perilous, comic-book situations.”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“a dangerous Disneyland sort of a film stamped with the Steven Spielberg style of high fun. Like other Spielberg summer extravaganzas, pic is a roller coaster ride best enjoyed as it's speeding along. Once it stops to consider the sacred state of adolescence, it becomes painfully syrupy.”
Variety
“an artfully crafted movie, thrumming with energy and sometimes wit, and utterly uninvolving for anyone over the age of 12.”
Paul Attanasio·The Washington Post
“The Goonies I was unable to enjoy because of a bunch of kids yelling and screaming all the way through. Not the audience, the actors.”
Colin Greenland·White Dwarf
Genres
Adventure, Comedy, Family
Cast & Crew
DirectorRichard Donner
StarringSean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green
ComposerDave Grusin
Rent/Purchase