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The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va., Amanda Deprospero column: For an '80s experience, see ?Goonies'
May 03, 2009 (The Dominion Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
I DON'T REMEMBER when I first saw it, so I can't tell you how I reacted to it.
All I know is that I must have fallen in love with "The Goonies," because whenever it's on TV, I still stop to watch the tale of adventure, pirates, villains and lost treasure.
Apparently, others feel the same way, because last week "The Goonies" (1985) was playing at the Warner Theatre on High Street. I stopped by to check it out, and it was like watching it for the first time.
If you haven't seen it, you might want to crawl out from underneath that rock, dust yourself off and do whatever you have to do to see this movie.
Set in Astoria, Ore., the story centers on Mikey (Sean Astin) and his brother Brand (Josh Brolin) as their parents face foreclosure on their house, thanks to the expanding Astoria Country Club.
While rummaging through their attic, they find a map, artifact and newspaper clippings detailing a pirate treasure that was rumored to have been lost somewhere in the area. Convincing his friends to go with him, Mikey leads his band of "Goonies," which according to some online sources were named Goonies after the area of Astoria known as the Goon Docks, on a search to find One Eyed Willie's treasure.
On their journey, they end up disturbing the Fratellis (Anne Ramsey, Robert Davi and Joe Pantoliano), an Italian crime family who have hidden out in an abandoned restaurant. The Fratellis chase the young heroes through an underground cave. With many obstacles and booby traps along the way, the group manages to stay one step ahead of the villains, until they finally stumble upon One Eyed Willie's pirate ship, and, consequently, his treasure.
Looking back at "The Goonies" now, it's funny to see all the famous faces. The movie truly did launch the careers of several stars. While Corey Feldman, who plays Mouth, may have already been known for his work in commercials and the 1984 hit "Gremlins," his part in "The Goonies" solidified him as an '80s icon.
Astin, who has gone on to play in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, "50 First Dates" and the TV show "24," had only been in two movies before "The Goonies," according to The Internet Movie Database (imdb.com).
It was Martha Plimpton's third movie and paved the way for her career; she's made more than 40 movies and TV shows since "The Goonies," imdb.com said. Plimpton plays Stef in the movie.
Brolin, who recently starred in two Oscar-winning films "No Country for Old Men" and "Milk," got his start in "The Goonies"; it was his first movie, according to imdb.com.
And, any Cyndi Lauper fans? The '80s singer lent her voice to the movie's soundtrack with the song "The Goonies are Good Enough." Yes, I know this because it's downloaded on my iPod.
Anyway, the story is one that appeals to a wide range of people. Adults who enjoyed the movie as kids in the '80s can now share it with their children, and kids will likely respond to the movie's adventurous spirit. It's timeless in that way.
AMANDA DEPROSPERO is a Lifestyles writer/copy editor for The Dominion Post. E-mail: adeprospero@dominionpost.com.
To see more of The Dominion Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.dominionpost.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, The Dominion Post, Morgantown,
W.Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
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