The World Needs to Be a Little Goofier

I recently revisited the cinematic masterpiece that is A Goofy Movie.

A Goofy Movie is Goofy’s first standalone…well…movie. I think they named it quite accurately.

The movie itself is based on the animated sitcom Goof Troop, which aired in the early 90s. Admittedly, I have very little memory (if any) of Goof Troop, but I do have great memories of A Goofy Movie.

In it, we meet Goofy’s son, Max, which is a fantastic name for a dog-humanoid. It also introduced us to Roxanne, Max’s (and likely others’) crush.

Why, though, should you care about a movie from the 90s that gets lost between Disney titans such as The Lion King and Aladdin?

The relationship between Goofy and his son is one that’s more relevant than ever, and I think the world could stand to be a little Goofier.

The Story So Far

The movie centers around the relationship between Goofy and Max.

Max is a prototypical kid in so many ways.

He has a huge crush on his classmate, Roxanne. He enjoys hanging out with his best friend PJ. He’s obsessed with the in-universe popstar, Powerline. And most importantly, he doesn’t quite fit in anywhere.

Getting Into Trouble

Just before summer break, Max gets into a little trouble at school. His timing is impeccable.

This freaks out Goofy, and instead of letting Max carryout his normal summer plans, Goofy makes Max go on a cross-country road trip to Lake Destiny, Idaho. This happens to be the same one that Goofy’s own father took him on.

Goofy: This is a vacation with me and my best buddy.
Max: Donald Duck?
Goofy: No, silly, with you!

Instead of coming clean to Roxanne about his absence over the summer, Max lies and tells her that Goofy is taking him to the Powerline concert in LA.

Throughout the movie, Max constantly struggles with becoming his father, a man who is literally the human (er…dog?) embodiment of a goof. We see Max develop the same laugh as Goofy (the “hy-uck”) like a normal teenager might grow awkward facial hair.

Max isn’t thrilled to spend the summer with his dad.

On The Road

The road trip only further isolates the two.

Goofy can’t seem to accept that Max is growing up. He even takes his teenage son to a possum-themed children’s show, which Max is bored by.

Max also can’t see his father’s good intentions. Goofy is trying to help in his own way.

During the road trip, two pivotal things happen.

First, Goofy teaches his son the family fishing trick, humbly called the “Perfect Cast.”

This technique catches none other than Bigfoot who chases the duo back to their car where they must wait out the night. This is why I avoid fishing.

Max: Dad, it's Bigfoot!
Goofy: Could you back up a bit, Mr. Foot, uh, you're out of focus.

During the night, the second key thing happens.

Max alters the road map that Goofy is using (back before Google Maps was infallible) to have them end the trip in Los Angeles instead of Lake Destiny. 

Rushing to the End

The two continue their journey.

Goofy becomes aware of Max’s map change but believes his son will still do the right thing.

Max doesn’t do the right thing, instead choosing to take the route toward California instead of Idaho.

At this point, Goofy storms off, and their car tumbles into the Colorado River with the two characters chasing after it.

The two finally catch up to the car just as they reach a waterfall, and Goofy goes over the edge. Max uses the “Perfect Cast” technique to save Goofy from falling. The lesson wasn’t lost on the son.

This life-and-death moment helps the father-son duo reconcile.

Once Goofy learns about the promise Max made to Roxanne, Goofy agrees to help Max get on stage at the Powerline concert, which they do.

Max returns home triumphant to Roxanne, who admits that she always had a crush on him and actually likes Max for who he is, the Goofy laugh (hy-uck) included.

A Kids Movie for Adults

The content of this movie surprised me upon rewatching it. It’s shockingly mature for a children’s movie.

The movie shows us a father struggling with losing a son who’s growing up.

Max: I'm not your little boy anymore, Dad! I've grown up! I've got my own life now!
Goofy: I know that! I just wanted to be part of it.

We also see a nervous Max who worries about who he is becoming. He’s a lost kid that doesn’t know when he’ll be found. 

Both characters are struggling with what’s ahead of them, and at first, this drives them apart. 

Two Sides of One Coin

Goofy worries about Max. He wants the best for his son and fears that he’s going down the wrong path. On the other hand, Max feels like he can’t fully express himself.

Max wants to grow into his own person while Goofy doesn’t want to lose his son. 

These are competing ideas that cause a tension between the pair.

Max thinks that Goofy’s traditions are antiquated and childish. Goofy can’t understand Max and his generation’s music.

The divide between them is clearly present when the two literally fight over which radio station to listen to.

Seeing Eye to Eye

The conflict is resolved not by one side conceding but by both meeting in the middle.

Max learns to accept Goofy for who he is. He sees that his dad may be silly but that he also deeply cares for his son. Goofy (of course) is a great father and person.

Goofy sees his son growing up and is forced to accept who he’s becoming. Max isn’t just a cookie cutter version of himself. 

Goofy: You know, maybe Max isn't all the things that you think a son should be, but... he loves me.

The two meet in the middle. They see I 2 I. The song really is perfectly named.

Put ‘Er Here, Old Sport

A Goofy Movie demonstrates the beauty of sticking out your hand and hearing the other side.

We see a struggling father-son relationship and what can happen when each side makes an effort. The two are reminded of their love for each other.

I think messages like that are often lost in modern children’s movies. Maybe they’re just harder to do effectively. For every A Goofy Movie, we might get a whole Trolls franchise. 

A Goofy Movie reminds us that beautiful things can happen when we try to meet someone where they are. The world, after all, could stand to be just a little Goofier (hy-uck).