The Goonies

John Chard 5/16/2024 3:22:20 PM 8.4

Ah, kids adventure films, how fondly we remember. In an effort to ward off property developers and save the Walsh's from having to move away. Mikey Walsh, Brand Walsh and their intrepid friends, set off to look for pirate treasure they believe exists after the discovery of a dust covered map. Fun fun fun! Treasure, pirates, booby traps, crooks, weird cellar dwelling humans, water slides, wishing wells and budding teenager romances, The Goonies has it all. Directed by Richard Donner and written by Steven Spielberg and Christopher Columbus, The Goonies is one of those rare animals that thrills the children and bewitches the adults in equal measure. Romping along at a fair old click, the film never stops to pause for breath, thus dragging the viewers along for the ride. There is no expense spared with the production (the sets are delightful) and the cast are mostly engaging. There's some minor annoyances, such as the girls being adventure caricatures, but itches are easy to scratch if you have engaged from the off with its fantastical charms. It's a film that once loved in childhood should hopefully stay far beyond into your adult years. A junior Raiders Of The Lost Ark perhaps? Maybe not, but still one wholly satisfying action adventure experience, one that's standing the test of time for many of us with our fondly nostalgic glasses perched delicately on the end of the nose. 8/10

Peter89Spencer 6/23/2021 3:58:40 PM 8.4

Such a classic! Glad they shown this at the cinema when it reopened - it looked amazing in the big screen!

RalphRahal 12/16/2024 5:41:09 PM 8.4

"The Goonies" kicks off strong with a great first act that really captures the energy of being a kid in the '80s. It’s fun watching the group of teens hanging out, pranking each other, and getting into all kinds of creative mischief around the house. It’s a bit of a throwback to when kids actually spent time together in person, unlike today, where everyone’s glued to a screen. The story flows perfectly from one act to the next, thanks to Richard Donner’s solid directing. He’s known for classics like Superman, Lethal Weapon, and The Omen, so no surprise he nailed it here too. Overall, this is a perfect pick for family movie night.