Screen Junkies' A Goofy Movie Honest Trailer highlights the tendency in Disney movies to kill off parents. Released in 1995, and based on the television series Goof Troop, the idea for A Goofy Movie was conceived partially in an effort to give its title character an emotional side that would strike a chord with audiences. Kevin Lima, who helmed the movie in his directorial debut, said that he had hoped the audience would get a chance to see Goofy’s feelings, instead of just the antics that he was known for. Featuring the voices of James Marsden, Bill Farmer, Jenna von Oÿ, and Wallace Shawn, A Goofy Movie begins with Goofy’s fear that his teenaged son Max is becoming more distant. In an effort to remedy this, Goofy plans a fishing trip for the two of them that ends up getting in the way of Max’s social life.
A Goofy Movie was met with mixed reviews when it premiered, with some critics arguing that Goofy was better served as a supporting character rather than the headliner of his own full-length feature. The project was successful enough nonetheless, garnering $35 million at the box office and leading to a direct-to-video sequel that came out in 2000. In the decades since its release, helped by a generation that grew up watching A Goofy Movie, the comedy has experienced something of a reexamination. When a panel was held in honor of A Goofy Movie’s 20th anniversary at the D23 Expo back in 2015, it had the largest attendance. Some fans even had to be turned away due to the fact that were no empty seats left.
Now, after looking back at blockbusters like Twister and The Fifth Element, the Honest Trailer for A Goofy Movie has arrived. The video begins with a timely dig at the expense of Artemis Fowl before affectionately poking fun at Goofy & Max. Pointing out certain elements about the family film that have aged a little poorly, the trailer also mentions one of the factors that makes A Goofy Movie so unique: For once, a parent isn’t dead. Check out the trailer, from Screen Junkies, below.
While it’s true that any form of fiction relies heavily on familial strife, Disney movies are infamous for keeping parents offscreen in one way or another. Since 1937, more than half of all Disney films have featured a protagonist with a dead, missing, or single parent. The tradition stretches back to Bambi and Dumbo, continuing into titles like Tarzan, and even extending beyond the animated realm, featuring prominently in franchises such as Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The reasons for this are easy enough to understand. An absentee parent, for one reason or another, is an easy motivator for drama that anyone can relate to. Plus, it can be hard for young heroes to go on life-risking adventures if their parents were constantly present. Still, one of the reasons given for the resurgence of A Goofy Movie is the cross-generational bond between Goofy and Max. Many moms and dads can relate to that dynamic as they watch the cult classic with their kids.
Source: Screen Junkies