I suppose I knew, in the unused corner of my brain where I store things like my first crush’s phone number and Milli Vanilli lyrics, that A Goofy Movie existed. But I didn’t know it, know it, ya know? And I don’t think I’d ever seen it – before now.
It came out in 1995, during Disney’s renaissance period. 1991: Beauty and the Beast. 1992: Aladdin. 1994: The Lion King. 1995: Pocahontas. AND A Goofy Movie. For some, maybe not many, but for some, A Goofy Movie belongs on that list, among those great movies. And that cult following is largely thanks to Millennials, literally the only people on the planet who could be nostalgic for 1995.
The only reason I even remembered that A Goofy Movie was a thing was its (to me) strange inclusion in a line of clutch handbags at the Disney Store. They look like those white puffy VHS cassette covers that Disney was famous for. If you’re as old as I am, your movie collection always looked weird because those cases were so much bigger and bulkier than the cardboard husks the rest of the world’s movies came in. Anyway, VHS is obsolete but we’re keeping 1995 alive with tacky purses.
A Goofy Movie is a spin-off of the TV show Goof Troop, which I also know nothing about. But in it, Goofy is a single dad taking care of his son, Max. In the movie, Max is a teenager, and it’s SO embarrassing having a goofy dad. He finally makes a move on a girl on the last day of school, and it’s looking like a great summer – except Goofy’s got a father-son road trip planned that’s going to monopolize all his time. So he makes up a weird story about performing on stage with the hottest boy band in the Goofy universe, Powerline. At this juncture I should probably mention that this movie is also a musical, wherein a dog-boy named Max Goof (does that make his dad Goofy Goof?) breaks into the Broadway-level singing of straight-to-DVD-level songs while skateboarding around a town populated solely by dog-people. Which is weird, because Goofy is a close personal friend of Mickey, who is a mouse, and Donald, who is a duck. Do they all live in segregated cities and meet on neutral turf?
Anyway, this movie watches like an extended episode of a show you can’t wait to turn off. But I am fascinated by its fandom. They hosted a 20th anniversary event at Comic Con in 2015 and people attended. They wore Powerline tshirts. It’s a pocket of Disney that I’ve never encountered before, and it makes me wonder what else they’ve been hiding in plain sight.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
“Millennials, literally the only people on the planet who could be nostalgic for 1995.”
What a joy to read sentences like the above. Genius, my dear Jay, pure genius! And thank you for it.
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BTW, I knew there were more Goofy movies in existence. Superstar Goofy (1972) was the second movie I’ve ever watched in a cinema. Forgot the first one now, prolly some Herbie crap. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064603/?ref_=nv_sr_2
It was silly and one-dimensional, my parental units were bored and pissed off, I was as happy as the goofy 9 y/o girl that I was. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213268/?ref_=nv_sr_6
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I really enjoyed reading this. You have a wonderfully unique writing style; lots of tongue in cheek and black humor. I had a good chuckle. Thanks.
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Agreeing with the Orc up there.
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I only have one question: What. Happened. To. Goofy’s. Wife? Divorce? Separation? Murder?
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This is a very important question and I think we have the right to know!!
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Those purses though–do they have any Alice in Wonderland ones? I’d love that!
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Yes!
I particularly love this one:
https://www.shopdisney.com/doorknob-pouch-alice-in-wonderland-1484878
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I want it! So cool😁
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I have so much love for this movie. It isn’t a good movie — but as kids on road trips it was this, The Jungle Book and well . . . something else.
My brother and I would always lose our shit when Goofy blew out of his socks at the end.
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I don’t care for Goofy, but for some reason I liked A Goofy Movie. Go figure.
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Haha….good review. I’m one of those people who actually like this movie. I do agree that it certainly does play several extended TV episodes put together, but its kind of “hidden gem” of Disney animated films out there by means of catchy songs, solid animation (for its time), and great voice talents.
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