[Blu-ray/DVD Review] THE GOONIES - Nightmarish Conjurings

The Goonies l Courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

35 years ago this month, the brainchild of Richard Donner, Steven Spielberg, and Chris Columbus was released to the hair-sprayed, acid-washed masses. I’m talking, of course, about THE GOONIES, which hit theaters in 1985. Starring the young Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, and Ke Huy Quan, THE GOONIES captivated and enchanted kids and preteens—and continues to do so to this day, while also serving as some much-needed nostalgia for Gen X and Millennial adults.

THE GOONIES centers a band of young misfits: Mikey, Chunk, Data, and Mouth. Their parents are all facing foreclosure on their homes because some Big Bad Capitalists are wreaking havoc on their coastal Oregon town. In the weeks leading up to everyone’s inevitable move, the gang (who call themselves “The Goonies”) discovers an old pirate treasure map in Mikey’s attic. Naturally, being the under-supervised whippersnappers that they are, they embark on an adventure to find the legendary treasure and hope it’s enough to save their homes.

Of course, not everything is all fun and games. The Goonies face peril in the form of comedically ridiculous criminals, underground tunnels, and deadly boobie traps. But through quick thinking and the power of teamwork, The Goonies, plus Mikey’s older brother Brand and his two friends Andy and Stef, manage to not only survive, but successfully find the loot and save their families.

THE GOONIES is one of those purely feel-good flicks that are fun for the whole family, especially if you’re a fan of the stars’ later work (particularly that of Sean Astin!). And it really doesn’t need to be anything beyond that. The best part, in my opinion, about THE GOONIES is that it’s a totally straight-forward coming-of-age adventure story. There’s no deeper meaning or message beyond the power of friendship. It’s unadulterated escapism—and there’s nothing wrong with that, especially given our current (rapidly changing and deteriorating) climate.

For its 35th anniversary, THE GOONIES has become available in 4K UHD. Now you can rewatch it in a higher quality…and share it with your kids without them asking “why is the picture so fuzzy?” It’s a good deal for those needing a dose of 80s nostalgia!

THE GOONIES 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is now available from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.