The Goonies by Richard Donner

Donner, Richard. The Goonies. Amblin Entertainment, 1985. PG. DVD. 114 min. ASIN B000P0J09W

Plot

The Goonies are a group of friends living in a small sea port village. The group consist of Mikey Walsh, his older brother Brand and gang members Andy, Data, Stef, Mouth, and Chunk. They are about to evicted from their homes which are to be demolished. Setting out to find a way of saving their homes, The Goonies find a treasure map and they set off in search for the treasure of the legendary pirate One-Eyed Willy which is located beneath an abandoned restaurant. Joined by a deformed gentle giant named Sloth, The Goonies embark on a great adventure through a underground maze filled with "boobie traps" and skeletons, where they are pursued by Sloth's mother, thief Momma Fratelli and his recently prison break brothers, Jake and Francis, who are also after One-Eyed Willy's treasure. The Goonies have to get to the treasure before they do.

Critical Evaluation

This classic children's movie is filled with laughter, adventure, and pirates! The Goonies members all have different characteristics that make them unique and easy for other cildren to relate to them. Chunk is the fat kid of the group who constantly lies. Data is the smart one of the group that invents things. Mike, the leader, is the one with reasoning and logic. Mouth has something always to say in any situation, he never shuts up. Andy and Stef later join the Goonies when they are on the adventure and realize that they are not as afraid of things as they thought. Brad is the older brother who is protective over everyone in the group. This movie has something for everyone and it is well directed.

Reader's Annotation

The Goonies, a gang of young misfits, go on an adventure to find One-Eyed Willie's lost treasure.

Information about the Author

Donner has directed and starred in many of his own films. He has won seven awards and has received one nomination. After filming The Goonies, he kept the head on One-Eyed WIlly and a model for the ship.

Genre

Adventure-Comedy-Family-Mystery

Booktalking Ideas

1) Talk about Pirates and Treasure

Reading Level/Interest Age

PG

Why included in selection?

One of my favorite movies that still makes me laugh.