40 Years of The Goonies, with Sheila Moeschen

Goonies recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. If you remember watching the movie in the 80s, the preceding sentence probably has you reaching for a bottle of Mylanta.

In honor of the occasion,

Sheila Moeschen

, my friend and regular podcast guest, suggested we revisit the film and talk about it. I knew going in that this was going to be a fun episode—how can you not enjoy talking about this movie—but what I wasn’t prepared for was just how powerfully this movie moved me.

Goonies does not feel 40-years-old. Which is frankly a bit of hope to those of us of a similar vintage. It’s our time.

Topics Discussed In This Episode:

• How well Goonies captures the feel of 1980s suburban America

• The experience of watching with adult eyes

• Whimsy, magic, and nostalgia

• The underrated soundtrack

• The Cyndi Lauper of it all

• How quickly and easily we get to know the 4 main characters

• The Sloth/Chunk relationship is the film’s beating heart

• Has Chunk secretly been the movie’s MVP this whole time?

• Andy and Stef’s roles in the film: good or underserved?

• Mama Fratelli: the most unlikely and terrifying antagonist

• Does the plot of this movie actually make sense?

• The wishing well scene: cringe or crucial?

• Justice for Stef

Related Links

• Stay Curious: Sheila’s newsletter, with photography, jokes, life observations, and pop culture references.

• The Revolution Will Be Unusual: Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”