Goonies, The (Warner 1985, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman)

The Goonies are a group of teens and pre-teens from a small seaside community. There’s Mouth, the wiseacre; Data, the James Bond wannabe; Mikey, the everykid; Brandon, Mikey’s older brother; and Chunk, whose name says it all. The gang’s existence is threatened by a group of greedy developers planning to turn Mikey’s house into a golf course, so when the kids find a treasure map in Mikey’s attic, they know it’s up to them to save their homes. Heading out in search of the treasure, the group is joined by Brandon’s would-be girlfriend Andy and her smart-mouthed pal, Stef.

The Goonies’ search leads them into dangerous underground caves peppered with hidden tunnels, baffling puzzles and a string of “booty traps.” And as if that weren’t enough danger, the gang is also pursued by criminal matron Mama Fratelli and her escaped convict sons Jake and Francis. Luckily for the Goonies, Mama Fratelli has another son, Sloth, a deformed outcast with a big heart and a strong frame (and a taste for Baby Ruths). Even with Sloth’s help, the Goonies have a hard road ahead if they’re going to escape with the treasure. They’ll be lucky enough to escape with their lives.

The movie had a pedigree ranging from The Little Rascals to Raiders of the Lost Ark, a thrilling adventure with a healthy dose of pre-teen comedy. It also had the talents of three A-list or future A-list Hollywood directors: Richard (Lethal Weapon) Donner directed, Chris (Home Alone) Columbus wrote the script and Steven (insert mega-hit) Spielberg provided the original story.

It may not have been E.T., but The Goonies was still a sizeable success. And if you have any doubt about the movie’s staying power, go ask that 80’s child when he or she last watched it. Every generation has its guilty pleasures. Twentysomethings have The Goonies.

production details
USA | Warner Bros. – Amblin Ent. | 114 minutes | 1985

Story: Steven Spielberg
Script: Christopher Columbus
Director: Richard Donner

cast
Sean Astin as Mikey Walsh
Jeff Cohen as Lawrence “Chunk” Cohen
Corey Feldman as Clark “Mouth” Devereaux
Kerri Green as Andy Carmichael
Martha Plimpton as Stephanie “Stef” Steinbrenner
Jonathan Ke Quan as Richard “Data” Wang
John Matuszak as Sloth
Joe Pantoliano as Francis Fratelli
Anne Ramsey as Mama Fratelli
Lupe Ontiveros as Rosalita
Keith Walker as Mr. Walsh
Paul Tuerpe as Sheriff
Charles McDaniel as Chunk’s Father
Elaine Cohen McMahon as Chunk’s Mother
Robert Davi as Jake Fratelli
Steve Antin as Troy
Mary Ellen Trainor as Mrs. Walsh
Curtis Hanson as Mr. Perkins
Josh Brolin as Brand Walsh
George Robotham as Prison Guard
Michael Paul Chan as Data’s Father
George Nicholas McLean as Mouth’s Father
Bill Bradley as Bill
Jeb Stuart Adams as Troy’s Friend #1
Eric Briant Wells as Troy’s Friend #2
Gene Ross as Man in Shower #1
Max Segar as Man in Shower #2
Newt Arnold as Man in Shower #3
Jack O’Leary as Reporter #1
Patrick Cameron as Reporter #2
Orwin C. Harvey as Tennis Player
Ted Grossman as FBI Man