Parents' Guide to

A Goofy Movie

Movie G 1995 78 minutes
A Goofy Movie Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Nell Minow , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Even tweens will enjoy this road trip with Goofy.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 7+

Based on 10 parent reviews

age 12+

Not for little kids at all

The first scene is absolutely terrifying to little kids. My four year old was shaking in terror. The whole movie has high school themes. Boy likes girl and pines for her. Not something I want my little kids to watch or worry about ever.
age 14+

Not for 7 year olds

Turned it off after a few minutes. Cleavage and inappropriate clothing on female characters who acted snotty to boy characters. Opened with a song hoping to get the “girl” No thanks! Not for my 7 year old

What's the Story?

When a prank at school gets Max in trouble, Goofy decides that what Max needs is some quality time with his father. So he takes him on a fishing trip, not knowing that Max will have to miss his first date with his adored Roxanne, and that in order to get out of the date, Max has lied to Roxanne, telling her his father is taking him to a rock concert. It takes a while (and a run-in with Bigfoot) for Goofy and Max to start talking to each other instead of at each other. But they ultimately strengthen their connection and find a satisfying resolution.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (15 ):

Free of the pressures that sometimes smother the big Disney releases, this movie has a refreshingly casual feel, with some sly humor, even daring to poke fun at Disney itself. The teen characters are contemporary without the prepackaged feel of other Disney productions (like "The New Mickey Mouse Club"), and there are lively songs performed by by Tevin Campbell. It's a shame that the G rating might scare off the film's optimal audience, the 10-14 age group. If you can persuade them to take a look, they will find much to enjoy and identify with.

One of the great existential questions of childhood, memorably explored in Stand By Me, is "If Mickey is a mouse, and Pluto is a dog, what is Goofy?" Goofy may be in a class (and genus) of his own, as we see in the thoroughly enjoyable A GOOFY MOVIE. At the center of the story is Max, struggling through the torturous insecurity and self-consciousness of adolescence. Like all teens, he is humiliated by his father's goofiness. But the movie's great joke is that in this case, his father is not just goofy, he is Goofy, the Goof of all Goofs, the Uber-Goof!

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about parent-child communication. Why did it take so long for Goofy and Max to start talking to each other? Why did Max lie to Roxanne? Do you think that was a good idea?

Movie Details

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A Goofy Movie Poster Image

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