The Goonies (1985)
"A group of young misfits called The Goonies discover an ancient map and set out on an adventure to find a legendary pirate's long-lost treasure."
- IMDB
In a long list of classic kids' adventures, the Goonies has gotta be at the top of the list. The Goonies is the crème of the crop when it comes to 80's cult classics and the legacy is almost unmatched. The story is a simple pirate treasure hunt tale taking place in 1980's Oregon. But as the Goonies navigate their way to One-Eye Willy's treasure, their journey is full of heart and friendship. Not to mention a long list of iconic quotes and scenes. The Wishing Well scene alone can be quoted by every cultured swine between the "goonies never say die" line and the "it's our time down here" speech. With action, comedy, and emotion, this film is the perfect balance as all things should be after 35+ years providing nostalgia for multiple generations.
Yeah.... So Samwise Gamgee plays Thanos's kid brother in this film. Pop culture icon, Sean Astin, and Josh Brolin lead the rest of the cast with Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, Kerri Green, & Martha Plimpton by their side. Cohen's performance as Chunk is legendary. And Plimpton as Stef is such a mood. My favorite thing about the cast is how well they are together in every scene. Their chemistry on screen allows all the kids to just be so present with every line and sequence. Comedic dialogue always hit and the emotional scenes made me believe they really were a close nit group of friends.
No question that the Goonies became a staple image of the "oddball group of friends" and you can really see that in similar stories, like Strangers Things (even without Sean Astin in season 2). Firstly, the film perfectly captures the spirit of an innocent childhood adventure while also being a coming-of-age story. Paired with that, this is a pack of quirky outsiders that thrive when they're together. The Goonies, themselves, are insanely relatable. So we're emotionally attached to these kids as they begin they're exciting journey to find treasure. It's a simple and effective formula that just works.
My Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★
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