I performed “The Perfect Cast” in excitement when I heard that Disney was producing A GOOFY MOVIE documentary. Here’s why:
In 2002, a ran a movie review website called dobleronfilm.com. It’s no longer operational, but it drove me to partner with Tarush to create a community of contributors on SpoilerFreeReviews.com. I wrote a personal review of A GOOFY MOVIE – The Overlooked Classic for that site. In it, I wrote:
“When my sister and my dad had problems communicating, I recommended that she watch “A Goofy Movie” with him. She didn’t take my advice, but I bet if she did, they would have been able to solve their problems in a civilized matter.”
Sadly, my sister passed away before resolving her issues with my dad. And really, what it all boiled down to was “acceptance.” Goofy and Max do not accept each other, but throughout the film, they learn to accept and love each other. I’m not saying that A GOOFY MOVIE could’ve saved their relationship, but it might have brought them closer to “seeing it eye to eye” sooner than they did.
This acceptance and realistic portrayal of teenage life makes A GOOFY MOVIE so special. I’ve seen A GOOFY MOVIE at least thirty times, and it has taught me to accept my dad for being so goofy. That lesson made this 90s box office disaster the overlooked classic that generations passionately discuss, creating the foundation for this entertaining documentary.
As for the documentary, the backstories in NOT JUST A GOOF are more interesting than the actual movie. Seeing Kevin Luma tell stories about Jeffrey Katzenberg takes up most of the screen time. While the stories are sure to make anyone smile, the heartwarming tales come towards the end when the doc filmmakers wisely focus on three elements:
- The Real Fans – They interview fans and capture their passion and stories for why A GOOFY MOVIE means the world to them.
- Director’s story – When the film captures the director’s story of why A GOOFY MOVIE is so special, it’s the exact reason it stands the test of time for him and so many people.
- Hi Dad, Soup – Try not to cry as the creators explain the origin of the “Hi Dad, Soup” movie scene. It’s animated perfection.
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It’s no wonder that thirty years later, a character as silly as Goofy is still the character that parents (and teenagers) need the most.
NOT JUST A GOOF is available on Disney+.
