A.Magik
09-07-2010, 07:38 PM
From Goof Troop in 1992, the inclusion of Max has been (at least 6 years ago) an important part of Disney and Goofy. To this person, the father/son dynamic has always held a place in my heart. It managed to go beyond Disney Afternoon, to two movies and christmas specials. So here are a bunch of moments I liked:
-Goof Troop “Meanwhile, Back at the Ramp.” This was my first GT episode and introduction to Max (seen back on its Disney Channel premiere Spring of ’92 before it went to Fox). This episode is almost a blueprint for A Goofy Movie. Seeing Max’s sad expression when Pete calls him a carbon copy of his father- a Goof!- you could see the planting of the seed of Max’s frustrations with his father, a factor that would strain his relationship.
But that is in the future. The major scene I feel worth mentioning occurs at dinner when Goofy notices his son’s sadness. Max asks what would he feel if someone accused him of goofing up. Goofy admits he does goof things up. 'But what if you were related to someone like that?' Goofy admits that it wouldn’t bother him. 'But what if it did?' Max presses the issue. Goofy asks what this is all about. Max angrily relates how Pete called him a goof as well. Goofy pauses as this accusation sinks in, then decides to do something to make himself look good for his son.
This scene is an interesting contrast to what happened later in AGM. Unlike his older self, Max can confess his problems to his father. And Goofy does give him the good ear. His answers don’t come off as ignorant but sincere and understanding. Unlike Max, he wouldn’t really care being related to a klutz (One wishes Max does inherit that sense of tolerance). And once Max confesses his point, Goofy isn’t so much insulted as he feels bad about how his personality is affecting his boy's happiness. He wants to solve it. What an honest and straightforward communication these two had back then! The Max at 11 years would have told his father about his date with Roxanne at the first minute. Too bad about adolescence garbling the communication. To quote Buffy the Vampire Slayer "When guys grew hair, they lost the ability to say what they mean."
-A Goofy Movie, to me, is the peak of their relationship. It strikes the right balance of communication problems and resolutions, equal parts distance and equal parts bonding (unlike the 90% distance in its sequel). And yet to me, my favorite scene is when the relationship hits its most vulnerable point with the map-change discovery. Before (and after this film), it was Max having the frustrations and anger about his father. This time its Goofy. This scene is memorable because Goofy shows a side we rarely see: Angry about his son’s betrayal. Back in GT, Goofy’s few angry moments were in defense to Max. This time, he’s angry at his son. Suddenly Max’s earlier peeves appear superfluous. For all of Goofy’s embarrassments to his son, his intentions were honorable (unlike Max); he would never lie or trick him the way Max did to him. And then they hit the river with both sides lashing out against the other ("You ruin everything! You lied to me!"). And what's sad is both partners have a point: Max wants to be his own man. Goofy wants to be a part of his son's life. Once they know where they stand, a reconciliation is made with the ‘Nobody Else But You’ number, which shows a reaffirmation of their early partnership (the song has a parallel to the GT theme song : ‘They’re buddies, they’re pals , they’re always there to work things out!’), and the near disaster when Goofy saves Max, and then Max returns the favor, embracing his father, his eyes speaking volumes about his love for his dad. Forget Powerline’s ‘Eye to Eye’, this to me was the film’s climax!
-House of Mouse "Max’s New Car." Max wants a car, Goofy doesn’t think he has the responsibility. Max retaliates by showing the classic Goofy short ‘Motormania’ where Goofy plays Jekyll-esque Mr. Walker who allows road rage to turn him into the Hyde-ian Mr. Wheeler! I like how HoM showed Max acknowledging his father’s movie past, even the embarrassing ones. Perhaps A Goofy Movie might have taken a different tone if Max had the road-trip with Mr. Wheeler…
-Goof Troop “Meanwhile, Back at the Ramp.” This was my first GT episode and introduction to Max (seen back on its Disney Channel premiere Spring of ’92 before it went to Fox). This episode is almost a blueprint for A Goofy Movie. Seeing Max’s sad expression when Pete calls him a carbon copy of his father- a Goof!- you could see the planting of the seed of Max’s frustrations with his father, a factor that would strain his relationship.
But that is in the future. The major scene I feel worth mentioning occurs at dinner when Goofy notices his son’s sadness. Max asks what would he feel if someone accused him of goofing up. Goofy admits he does goof things up. 'But what if you were related to someone like that?' Goofy admits that it wouldn’t bother him. 'But what if it did?' Max presses the issue. Goofy asks what this is all about. Max angrily relates how Pete called him a goof as well. Goofy pauses as this accusation sinks in, then decides to do something to make himself look good for his son.
This scene is an interesting contrast to what happened later in AGM. Unlike his older self, Max can confess his problems to his father. And Goofy does give him the good ear. His answers don’t come off as ignorant but sincere and understanding. Unlike Max, he wouldn’t really care being related to a klutz (One wishes Max does inherit that sense of tolerance). And once Max confesses his point, Goofy isn’t so much insulted as he feels bad about how his personality is affecting his boy's happiness. He wants to solve it. What an honest and straightforward communication these two had back then! The Max at 11 years would have told his father about his date with Roxanne at the first minute. Too bad about adolescence garbling the communication. To quote Buffy the Vampire Slayer "When guys grew hair, they lost the ability to say what they mean."
-A Goofy Movie, to me, is the peak of their relationship. It strikes the right balance of communication problems and resolutions, equal parts distance and equal parts bonding (unlike the 90% distance in its sequel). And yet to me, my favorite scene is when the relationship hits its most vulnerable point with the map-change discovery. Before (and after this film), it was Max having the frustrations and anger about his father. This time its Goofy. This scene is memorable because Goofy shows a side we rarely see: Angry about his son’s betrayal. Back in GT, Goofy’s few angry moments were in defense to Max. This time, he’s angry at his son. Suddenly Max’s earlier peeves appear superfluous. For all of Goofy’s embarrassments to his son, his intentions were honorable (unlike Max); he would never lie or trick him the way Max did to him. And then they hit the river with both sides lashing out against the other ("You ruin everything! You lied to me!"). And what's sad is both partners have a point: Max wants to be his own man. Goofy wants to be a part of his son's life. Once they know where they stand, a reconciliation is made with the ‘Nobody Else But You’ number, which shows a reaffirmation of their early partnership (the song has a parallel to the GT theme song : ‘They’re buddies, they’re pals , they’re always there to work things out!’), and the near disaster when Goofy saves Max, and then Max returns the favor, embracing his father, his eyes speaking volumes about his love for his dad. Forget Powerline’s ‘Eye to Eye’, this to me was the film’s climax!
-House of Mouse "Max’s New Car." Max wants a car, Goofy doesn’t think he has the responsibility. Max retaliates by showing the classic Goofy short ‘Motormania’ where Goofy plays Jekyll-esque Mr. Walker who allows road rage to turn him into the Hyde-ian Mr. Wheeler! I like how HoM showed Max acknowledging his father’s movie past, even the embarrassing ones. Perhaps A Goofy Movie might have taken a different tone if Max had the road-trip with Mr. Wheeler…