A millennial revisits The Goonies 40 years later and finds the chaotic classic is the ultimate reminder of why she’s not ready for kids just yet.
Rewatching The Goonies 40 years after its 1985 release, one childless millennial has come to a hilarious yet relatable realization — this beloved cult classic is not just a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but also a surprisingly powerful reminder of why not having kids just yet might be a good thing.
Directed by Richard Donner and produced by Steven Spielberg, The Goonies follows a group of misfit kids who embark on an adventurous treasure hunt to save their homes from being demolished.
It’s filled with thrills, friendship, and the kind of high-energy chaos that many once found thrilling as kids. But now? It’s almost anxiety-inducing.
The rewatch begins innocently enough, with familiar characters like Mikey, Data, Chunk, and Mouth diving headfirst into adventure. But the sheer volume — literally and figuratively — of their interactions makes for a hectic experience.
The constant yelling, talking over each other, and reckless decisions start to feel less like fun childhood antics and more like a window into what it’s actually like to manage a group of unsupervised 12-year-olds.
Jeff Cohen’s portrayal of Chunk stands out for his comedic timing, particularly during the iconic “spill your guts” scene, but his nonstop chatter would test the patience of any adult.
Mouth, played by Corey Feldman, is the classic troublemaker, whose jokes and pranks trigger the same frustration the writer remembers from her own middle school days.
Even Sean Astin’s Mikey, the heart of the group, delivers earnest speeches at the most inconvenient moments — like mid-escape from dangerous criminals.
Actor Ke Huy Quan, who played the inventive and likable Data, recently confirmed the chaotic nature of filming in a 2024 podcast. He recalled how director Donner embraced the children’s natural energy, letting them overlap dialogue and bounce off the walls.
That raw, unfiltered dynamic translated into a film that feels authentic — and, for modern adult viewers, utterly exhausting.
As someone who grew up babysitting and now enjoys being the “fun aunt,” the author makes it clear she loves kids. But The Goonies served as a vivid reminder of the less cute side of parenting — the constant noise, energy, and emotional messiness of adolescence.
Ultimately, the film is still a charming, important piece of pop culture, capturing the chaotic spirit of pre-teenhood and the unbreakable bond of friendship.
But for this millennial, it also makes one thing clear: parenting is a full-time job, and right now, she’s happy watching the madness from a safe distance — with the volume turned down.
Source PEOPLE
