The Goonies

Directed by: Richard Donner
Screenplay by: Chris Columbus
Story by: Steven Spielberg
Produced By: Richard Donner, Harvey Bernhard
Starring: Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green
Martha Plimpton, Ke Huy Quan
Music By: Dave Grusin
Production Company: Amblin Entertainment
Release date: June 7, 1985 (United States)

Plot: Facing foreclosure of their homes in the Goon Docks area of Astoria, Oregon, to an expanding country club, a group of children who call themselves "the Goonies" gather for a final weekend together. The Goonies are Mikey Walsh, his older brother Brand, Data, Mouth, Chunk, Andy and Stef.

Rummaging through the Walshes' attic, they come across a 1632 doubloon and an old treasure map purporting to lead to the treasure of legendary pirate "One-Eyed Willy", believed to be located somewhere nearby. Mikey considers One-Eyed Willy to be the original Goonie. The kids overpower and bind Brand and make their way to an abandoned restaurant on the coast that coincides with the map; Brand soon follows alongside Andy, a cheerleader with a crush on him; and Stef, Andy's friend. The group eventually discovers that the derelict restaurant is a hideout of the Fratelli crime family: Francis, Jake, and their mother. The Goonies find a tunnel in the basement and follow it, but when Chunk flags down a motorist to go to the sheriff’s station, he gets abducted by the Fratellis and imprisoned with their hulking, deformed, younger brother Sloth. The Fratellis interrogate Chunk until he reveals where the Goonies have gone, and begin pursuit. Chunk is left behind with Sloth, but befriends him. After Sloth frees both of them, Chunk calls the sheriff, and both follow the trail of the Fratellis.

The Goonies evade several deadly booby traps along the tunnels, while staying ahead of the Fratellis. Finally, they reach the grotto where Willy's pirate ship, the Inferno, is anchored. The group discovers that the ship is filled with treasure, and they start filling their pockets, but Mikey warns them not to take any on a set of scales in front of Willy, considering that to be their tribute to him. As they leave the ship, the Fratellis appear and strip them of their loot. They start to bind the Goonies and make them walk the plank, until Chunk arrives with Sloth and distracts the Fratellis long enough for the Goonies to jump overboard and swim to safety. Brand saves Andy from drowning and she kisses him. The Fratellis proceed to grab all the treasure they can, including those on Willy's scales; this triggers another booby trap which causes the grotto to cave in. With Sloth's help, the Goonies and Fratellis barely escape.

Review: The story begins with the revelation that a close knit community is acing foreclosure of their homes in the Goon Docks area of Astoria, Oregon, to an expanding country club. A group of children who call themselves "the Goonies" gather for a final weekend together. The small group of friends is made up of Mikey Walsh, his older brother Brandon, Data, Mouth, Chunk, Andy and Stef. Each with a fun back story and great personality.

While rummaging through the Walshes' attic, filled with a range of antics and museum pieces, they come across a 1632 doubloon and an old treasure map purporting to lead to the treasure of legendary pirate "One-Eyed Willy". One-Eyed Willy is a legendary figure from the past who Mikey to be the original Goonie. To get away and seek out the treasure the kids overpowered and bind Brandon and make their way to an abandoned restaurant on the coast that coincides with the map. Brandon soon follows alongside Andy, a cheerleader with a crush on him; and Stef, Andy's friends.

From there the story has a fun and epic journey. The Goonies explore the caves underneath the derelict restaurant. While they are chased by a family of criminals who want to get their hands on the treasure. The story has plenty of youthful cheeky jokes and one liners. A fun movie for the weekend.

M J Flack