The Goonies 1985

Janet Maslin, New York Times: The Goonies has every imaginable funhouse flourish. It has crooks, bats, cobwebs, skeletons, a lovable monster, an underground grotto and a treasure hidden by some of the most considerate, clue-loving pirates who ever lived. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: It's a charmless exercise: director Richard Donner turns the kids into shrieking ferrets, and his jumpy cutting seems to lag behind the action deliberately in a curious attempt to make the film seem more chaotic and cluttered. Read more

Arthur Knight, Hollywood Reporter: The action at the center of Chris Columbus' script occasionally falters and generally feels manufactured, but the kids go about their chores as if convinced that all their make-believe is true. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The Goonies is a smooth mixture of the usual ingredients from Steven Spielberg action movies, made special because of the high-energy performances of the kids who have the adventures. Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: While the pre-pubescents continually scream, their doting parents prove equally odious in a finale of astounding sentimentality. Read more