The Goonies

This is the 80s. This is what it's all about.

The Goonies, Sean Astin's first big film, is one of the great brat pack films of the decade that perfected the lovably imperfect genre. It's both silly and serious, unrealistic and compelling. But mostly, it's a group of great characters who don't want to be split up by the evil bank repossessing the house of two of the boys.

The pirate treasure map story may be cheesy, but it's completely charming, especially in a film that stars almost entirely children. It adds an element of fairy tale to a story that would otherwise just be another tale of class struggle and injustice.

The stereotypical bumbling bad guys add a lot of charm to the film, as well. Serious villains playing against a group of kids would not have the same appeal. The fact that they are clumsy ensures that they do not pose much of a threat to the children, creating a fun story rather than a dangerous one.

It's the characters that really make the film, however. Each is so exaggerated. The strong older brother, the beautiful rich girl and her sidekick friend, the wimpy little boy who turns out to be a hero, the fat oaf, the genius, the wise guy. Each contrasts the others, and each is so exaggerated that it is unbelievable. However, that is what makes the characters and the interactions between them so amusing and appealing.

The Goonies is one kickin' movie--far different from any other. It is truly timeless because "Goonies never say die!"