Sep 12
9
A Goofy Movie- Still Relevant Today!
Over the last week, Disney channel has been playing A Goofy Movie. So, having a love of the cartoons and films that I grew up with as a child, I sat down with the family and watched it again. The story centers around the cast of Goof Troop (which was part of the Disney Afternoon lineup in the late 90’s). Max is now a teenager, and in high school. He is trying to impress a girl that he likes by the name of Roxanne, so he tells her that his dad, Goofy is taking him to the Powerline concert in Los Angeles. What comes after this is a hilarious trip filled with waterfalls, maps, and most of all, learning that your parents aren’t so lame after all.
A Goofy Movie was released when I was ten years old, I remember dancing along to the songs and loving them. Apparently I had this phase where I wanted to be a pop star, but tell me who didn’t want to be famous when they were little? So, while I was watching the movie with my son last weekend, he started quoting things from the film. He even asked why Max thought Goofy was lame, and this got me to thinking of a few things.
Although this was a cartoon film, it still touched on human emotion and situations that one would not think would be present in a cartoon story. For those of us familiar with Disney films, we know the stories can pull on the heart strings (Beauty and the Beast anyone?) and make us feel things that perhaps we hadn’t thought of prior to watching. I got to thinking about how as I grew up I thought my parents were boring or “lame” because they weren’t interested in the same things that I was into. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but I just couldn’t see my mom being into the whole boy band thing I was into as a teenager. It made me wonder if eventually my son would begin to think of me and my husband in the same way.
Goofy puts trust in Max and allows him to navigate the trip. Now, this happens after Max changes the route from Lake Destiny to Los Angeles and lies to his dad. Goofy finds this out from Pete who is camping with his family nearby and seems to be a little too pleased with giving Goofy the bad news. Goofy like any parent who finds out they have been lied to by their child is angry because he feels that Max didn’t try to talk to him. Well, this leads to their car ending up in water which also forces the duo to finally sort things out and realize that they have to work together to make their relationship work.
Goofy does something really cool for Max. He takes Max to the Powerline concert so he can get onstage and impress Roxanne. Personally, I probably would not have done this, but I do remember my mom standing outside getting concert tickets for me when there was a show I really wanted to go to. So, Max gets on stage, dances with his idol, and impresses the girl. It is a happy ending for all.
I was left with warm fuzzies, but at the same time, it made me reflect on my relationship with my son. I expect a lot from him even though he is only eight years old. Sometimes it feels like he is growing up too fast. I guess in some ways, I am Goofy trying to take my son fishing although he wants to go to the Powerline concert. How many of us have felt this way? This movie was wonderful. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think. If this is ever released on DVD, and I have heard rumors of 2015, I will definitely add it to my collection. Although my son says he will live with me forever (at which I nod my head and smile) I know he has to grow up. I am pretty sure that as relevant as A Goofy Movie was for me, it will remain that way for him in the years to come.
