One of the joys of having Disney+ as a streaming service option during the coronavirus pandemic (other than the mostly-unlimited library of classic animated features in the studio's canon, which you can read about my ten-part series of posts on the subject starting with Part I here), but also the opportunities to watch several equally-regarded or underappreciated gems, from TRON to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and even acclaimed series' like Gargoyles and So Weird.
But the one that I've been revisiting on more than one occasion--and that has aged surprisingly well--is a little gem from 1995 called A Goofy Movie. As a spinoff of the hit Saturday morning, early-90s TV show Goof Troop (which depicted the iconic slapstick maestro Goofy as a suburban single dad), the feature-length story centers on Goofy taking his teenage son Max (who has a deep crush on a fellow classmate, and who wants to be as far from his "old-fashioned" father's shadow as possible) on a road trip after mistaking a stunt by Max at a school assembly as a serious troublemaking incident.
What follows begins as an embarrassing experience for Max as Goofy attempts to keep his relationship with his son in tact (and as Max slowly remembers and acknowledges where he comes from), as they face various stops and/or obstacles, from a possum theme park ("Who's your favorite possum?" declares the scene-stealing Lester, voiced by the film's director, Kevin Lima), an encounter with Bigfoot, an cross-country map route, a pop concert, and memories of "Hi Dad Soup," to name a few.
Speaking of father-son bonding, this film illustrates those themes in unexpected ways, showing sides of Goofy that have reportedly never been seen before, while retaining the same wacky antics that have made him a beloved character since the 1930s. Much of that is a testament to the terrific voice work from actor Bill Farmer, who's voiced Goofy since the late-80s, including the recent Disney short, "How to Hook Up Your Home Theater." Ditto his ability and skill to sustain a feature-length story, which many found hard to believe at first. Some may find this approach divisive, but (like Space Jam did with the Looney Tunes in the same decade) A Goofy Movie stands as a benchmark for introducing a new generation to some classic Disney characters, while bridging a generational gap with modern teenage adolescence.
While a few 90s-style pop songs do pervade the film's catchy, clever, and original soundtrack (the fictional artist Powerline was reportedly an amalgamation of artists Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson, and Prince), they don't feel contrived or dated, even at 25 years since the movie's initial release. (Just look at the lyrics for the central anthem, "I2I," if you don't believe me.) The songs actually serve the story instead of just being passive gimmicks for a contemporary audience. Furthermore, Max's high school setting and subsequent road trip elements recall John Hughes movies from the 80s, including Sixteen Candles (remember Anthony Michael Hall as Farmer Ted?) and Planes, Trains & Automobiles (you could say Max is Steve Martin's Neal Page to Goofy as John Candy's Del Griffith). Plus, said elements here (despite a few female characters showing off their midriffs) are arguably more relatable than several other 90s "teen movies" put together (no offense, Cher Horowitz).
The early-90s was a revolutionary time for the Disney studio, with hit films like Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Lion King (1994) and Pocahantas (also released in 1995) showcasing top-notch character animation and artistry. A Goofy Movie looks tame in comparison. Even so, late film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert found the film's art direction and animation to be impressive, and the movie in general to be entertaining. The screenwriters even threw in some clever homages to Disney's history (i.e., blink-and-you'll-miss-'em cameos from Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, the Disney signature on Goofy's car keys).
Again, with its surprisingly deep emotional resonance, seamless blend of various genres and archetypes, and timely themes for estranged parents and children, families vacationing at home due to COVID-19, or students on summer vacation ("How about science slumber parties?!?"), this entertaining and fun movie may be more relevant and timely than ever. Garsh, who'd have thought?
WRITER'S NOTE: Check out this 20th anniversary panel from 2015, with loads of behind-the-scenes stories on the making of the film.
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