Like most dads, Goofy doesn’t notice that what was fun when Max was younger is embarrassing now as a teenager. Goofy is trying to be a good dad (i.e., trying to remember to knock before entering, making Max’s lunch), but, like most teenagers, Max has trouble opening up to his dad. This is different than most high-concept films we are used to seeing from Disney, being a “road trip-meets buddy comedy” at its core. The story is low-key- just a dad planning a fishing trip with his teenage son- yet moving. In A Goofy Movie, storytelling is done with a minimalistic approach. Following this up with the final song “I2I,” we not only get a catchy hook but also an emotional payoff where Goofy and Max dance together on stage. During the performance, Max looks out to the audience, and only Roxanne is visible, so he dances around the stage and sings directly to the girl he likes. This leads to “Stand Out,” a power anthem on the surface but underneath say directly to Roxanne what Max is too shy to express. Being a teenager that doesn’t know when to quit when he’s ahead, Max further lies that he will be on the stage and wave to her. Everyone at Max’s school loves Powerline, and Max, afraid of losing his crush, Roxanne (Kellie Martin), to a romantic rival, lies about the reason for canceling a date with her by saying he’s going a Powerline concert she’ll be watching. Powerline is the “biggest rock star on the planet” and has plenty of swag. If you were to take Bobby Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson, smash their heads together, wipe off the blood, you would get the Goofy Movie character Powerline (Tevin Campbell). When Goofy sings and dances with the entire park looking on, he is having the time of his life all Max wants to do is run and hide from embarrassment. The film does a good job of transferring Max’s emotions to the viewer by the use of an “uglier” color pallet usually reserved for villainous lairs, with the dilapidated animatronics falling apart, and the nauseated distortion of the music and background. Max, by contrast, is going through the growing pains where he doesn’t know who he is, only that he doesn’t want to be his father. Goofy is, for lack of a better word, goofy and feels nostalgia when he says the attraction “hasn’t changed.” He is always authentically himself and doesn’t worry about what people think. It’s if a flash mob and the Newsies opening number had a love child with the beginning guitar riff from “You Don’t Know.” Every character has their own personality and feels relatable, allowing viewers to connect with them the way you would someone in your own life or school.Īnother infectious song in A Goofy Movie is “Lester’s Possum Park.” What makes that scene perfect is that it highlights the differences between Goofy and Max as we get to experience the park from both their points of view. Still, instead of solely being a “walking through town” song, it is an “I want” song. The opening guitar riff instantly puts me in a good mood, feeling reminiscent of “Belle” in Beauty and the Beast. It is a perfect complement to the scene and is incredibly catchy. In my opinion, the 90s rock song “After Today” is the best opening number ever scored. Despite the push and pull of their relationship, they ultimately come together for the emotional father-son ballad, “Nobody Else But You.” His lyrics highlight his optimism and glass-half-full attitude, while Max’s parts highlight how much he doesn’t want to be with his dad. During a radio control battle between the two, the tape breaks, leaving them with no music, so Goofy improvises a melody inspired by the sounds of the road to cheer up Max. Goofy takes part in and enjoys songs that are more “traditional” Disney, while Max’s musical interest lies in contemporary rock and R&B. How music is used to juxtapose the dynamic between Goofy and Max is incredibly ingenious. The music in A Goofy Movie stands out from other films, mostly because there isn’t a bad song to be heard.

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