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Happy Monday!
“Goonies never say die!”
As Brand Josh Brolin can attest, Goonies were really never supposed to say two other words on set…
The Goonies, to this day, still has some of the most passionate and protective fans around, which says a lot since the movie was released back in 1985. Count myself among those fans. Incredibly, this cult classic was the the product of some of cinema’s most imaginative storytellers: Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon I, II & III), Chris Columbus (Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Gremlins, Adventures in Babysitting) and Steven Spielberg (drop the mic). That triple threat actually seems more odd than the plot to The Goonies.
Here’s to channeling Josh Brolin’s amazement for what this week will present to us, except with a slightly different word choice.
Have an Awe-Inspiring Week!
Here’s the 4-11
April 11th is the ideal day to give the “low-down-down low-no doubt!” of exciting news in popular culture this week.
It’s also a good excuse for the classic Meet the Parents reference above.
Famed director Richard Donner announced this week that a relentlessly buzzed about/requested sequel to the cult-classic The Goonies is going to be a reality on the silver screen. Is this a good idea or bad idea? There are valid reasons for both answers right now, but part of the answer may lie in another long-awaited sequel coming out later this year called Dumb and Dumber To.
Why, you ask?
Because that comedy is widely considered to be, if not the funniest (my vote), then one of the funniest movies ever made. If Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels and the Farrelly brothers can recreate that magic and entertain devoted fans like the 1994 masterpiece, then perhaps taking cinematic gold out of the safe can lead to a treasured Goonies return.
Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are infinite words for what this band has meant to American music, culture and, of course, Foo Fighters. During the ceremony at the Barclays Center, former Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear were joined by fellow rocker Joan Jett (in place of the iconic Kurt Cobain…) for a special rendition of “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
20 years later and that catchy guitar opening with the unforgettable pulse-pounding drum beat still takes your breathe away.
Last, but certainly not least, is the first video evidence of the “worlds colliding!” spin-off sitcom Girl Meets World.
Hmm, there seems to be a lot of demand and fanfare for returning to the 1990s and even the 1980s (Goonies and Goldbergs) lately…
Here’s a fascinating/mind-blowing phenomenon: For every other show, I relate to and have related to the younger characters or the 20-something or 30-something single characters. But for Girl Meets World, my connection is strictly with the parents. Cory and Topanga are now officially adults raising a daughter and a son (wow). Relating to the parents on a sitcom is brand new for me (and surely for millions of others), yet it doesn’t feel that strange. Maybe the only part is that it’s going to air on the Disney Channel, but that’s a small price to pay for the soon-to-be-viewed-glory of watching Cory and Topanga (and their friends and family…) try to act like adults and see the world through the eyes of a new generation.
Actually, as an uncle, I can relate to that.
And there’s Jimmy’s Daily Planet’s 4-11.
The Goldbergs ‘R’ Good Enough
Spoiler Alert: This is a Recap of “The Goldbergs” from March 4, 2014
Using our imagination to create something out of nothing is a skill and, in some cases, a magically inspiring art form. This random, cognitive creativity can be accelerated to levels unbound when influenced by a mythical story, like say the 1985 cult classic The Goonies.
“I’m just about to watch the good part. Which is all of it.”
Unfortunately for Adam, his love for The Goonies was discovered and exposed by Barry and Erica, his older brother and sister. This led to an adventure of epic proportions that took Adam and his cast of Goonie-dressed friends (plus Barry and Erica) directly across the street by way of riding their movie-inspired bikes to, according to the “treasure map,” look into opening of the neighbors tree, which revealed…
That Adam had to (once again) endure the tortuous pranks by his older siblings. His friends were sympathetic, but his journey was destroyed by a sibling prank. Even his friend designated Chunk (with the help of a pillow) was complaining about having to eat a chocolate bar instead of a granola bar.
For fans of the movie, the latter was the final bullet hole in the Jeep Cherokee.
The thrill of discovering a lost treasure on a giant pirate ship hidden deep below his suburban street was gone. Mikey Adam had to face the reality that his quest for finding buried treasure had come to an end.
Or so he thought…
While famous scenes and characters from The Goonies were perfectly recreated with an unforgettable soundtrack, Beverly and Murray were insisting that Pops get his finances in order. The days of 3 massages/week and buying pancakes for everybody in the local diner were over (who likes Bloody Mary’s?). Beverly was searching for and desperate to find jewelry that Pops had insisted he had given to her years ago. However, both Pops and Beverly knew he never did, but they entertainingly danced around that reality for a little while when Beverly decided to clean the entire house to prove her point.
While some may describe this effort as a waste of time, how else would Beverly have found a small collection of household necessities like throwing stars, delicious snacks hidden in secret places and a machete?
Okay, after reading what she found, I know what you’re thinking…What kinds of snacks did she find? The answer: the best kinds!
During this third-degree investigation into the affluent life of Pops (where a half-birthday in a couple months equaled $20), he was panicking to remember where he put the jewelry meant for Beverly. Enter Adam. Despite a failed first attempt for precious gold and silver coins, he, (like the Goonies) was relentless in his quest for treasure. Adam took the case and enlisted his Goonies crew once more.
Feeling bad for teasing their younger brother (and the fact he said they were “dead to him” in that fun, sibling kind of way), Barry and Erica got back in character to find Pops’ missing bag of jewelry. Returning back to their attic of secrets, a ripped piece of sheet music + a forgotten framed picture = “X/the spot.”
Riding their bikes to Cyndi Lauper’s classic, “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough,” the Goldbergs and friends ventured down to Pops’ old/Murray’s currently-owned furniture store. They needed to find an old piano in storage. With Barry’s help to life a heavy box (still easier than a boulder), Adam crawled under to find the piano and opened it up to find…
The treasure/bag of jewelry!
Even without a ghost pirate ship passing by in the distance, it was still an unequivocal success.
Adam got his Goonies adventure, Beverly got her promised bag of jewelry and Barry and Erica started to realize just how much fun it was to escape reality for a day with their movie-obsessed little brother.
For Adam (and Pops), it all worked out.
And things especially “worked out” for Barry and his private aerobic instructor: his mom Beverly.
Big Tasty got fit with a parade of awesome mother-son bonding.
“Hey, you guys,” these fun, goofy moments and random adventures are the ones we all treasure forever.
“Goonies/Goldbergs/Your Last Name Never Say Die!”
Jimmy's Daily Planet 