Film Analysis

The Goonies (1985)

Ordinary World: Brandon, Mikey, Mouth, Chunk, and Data, known as The Goonies, are best friends. They are all going lose their homes. This wealthy man is going to build a golf course where they all live in the boondocks. Their houses will be torn down if their families don't come up with some serious money. They are spending their last weekend together. 

Call to Adventure: Mikey and Brandon's dad works for a museum in town. He keeps some of the excess relics in the family attic. The boys venture up to have a look. Mikey finds a map to the treasure of One Eyed Willy. 

Refusal of the Call: All of the boys except Mikey decide that the search for the treasure would be in vain. It was probably just a myth and not worth the time spent searching. Mikey insists that they give it a shot.

Crossing the Threshold: Mouth, Mikey, Chunk, and Data tie Brandon to a chair and sneak out of the house to look for the treasure. They are not ready to leave the boondocks that they love so much. They want to save it and this could be their last chance.

Tests, Allies, Enemies: Within the first few minutes after they leave Mikey's house, they meet the enemies, the Fratellis. They are an Italian family of crime. They have just murdered two federal officers and broken the son out of jail. At this point, the boys don't know that. They unknowingly walk right into the crooks' hideout on their trail to the treasure. The boys spend the remainder of the film narrowly escaping these people.

Approach to the Inmost Cave: After the Fratellis leave the hideout, Mikey and the gang reenter the hideout (an old abandoned restaurant) with the map to find out where their next step in finding the treasure is. They go down to the basement of the building and Chunk spills water on the ground revealing a secret passageway in the fireplace. They also discover the body of one of the federal officers in the freezer shortly after.

The Ordeal: The Fratelli's return to the restaurant and the kids decide the only way out is through the fireplace. They all enter except for Chunk. They send him to find the police. Chunk is apprehended by Mrs. Fratelli and chained up with Sloth. Thus begins the real adventure. The kids in the tunnels below the restaurant are faced with age old "booby traps" and other frightening obstacles. Chunk faces a very scary interrogation and eventually admits to the Fratellis that his friends went down the fireplace in search of treasure. Of course, the family of crime is intrigued. They enter the fireplace.

Reward: The Goonies discover the treasure of One Eyed Willy. Shortly after they arrive, so do the Fratellis. They are very greedy and want the treasure all to themselves.
The Road Back: The treasure that they had picked up was taken from them by the Fratellis and the kids were tied up and preparing to walk the plank of One Eyed Willy's ship. They nearly die when Chunk and Sloth show up to save the day.

The Resurrection: Mikey and the gang fight the Fratellis. They prevail and escape the caves through a small opening that Sloth helps them get through. The Goonies receive justice finally.

Return With the Elixir: Mikey and the Goonies didn't make it out with any treasure and they thought no one would believe their story. Then the ship and all it's contents floats from inside the cave and everyone is very excited. The Goonies save the boondocks. None of them have to move anymore and everyone is happy. The Fratellis are taken into custody for their various crimes.