Working from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg, screenwriter Chris Columbus ("Gremlins") and director Richard Donner ("Superman: The Movie") here fashioned an appealing old-time adventure for kids and the young at heart. A bunch of rambunctious kids in a small town are due to lose their homes to stereotypically sleazy developers. But in the attic of Mikey (Sean Astin) and Brand (Josh Brolin), they find a map that will supposedly lead them to a legendary pirates' long-lost treasure. They then embark on an underground adventure with no small amount of peril to endure. All the while, they're pursued by a family of criminals including Mama (Anne Ramsey), Jake (Robert Davi), and Francis (Joe Pantoliano).
Although this viewer didn't really see this in its entirety until he was himself an adult, it still worked quite well, thanks to lively filmmaking from Donner and company, a cracking pace, an assortment of elaborate "booty" traps, and an engaging bunch of kid actors, some of them making their feature film debuts. It's a true marvel of production design (by J. Michael Riva), set decoration, and cinematography (by Nick McLean, who also cameos as Mouths' father). The score (mostly by Dave Grusin) is also appropriately rousing, perfect for a movie that involves a bit of swashbuckling at the end. This is spirited entertainment with a healthy amount of humour; Mouths' instructions to Rosalita (Lupe Ontiveros) and Chunks' confessions to the Fratellis are perfect examples. Columbus even works in a reference to "Gremlins" at one point.
The talented ensemble also includes Corey Feldman as Mouth, Jeff Cohen (who opted not to continue in the acting business) as Chunk, Kerri Green as Andy, Martha Plimpton as Stef, and Ke Huy Quan as Data, the youngster who sees himself as a junior James Bond complete with (malfunctioning) gadgets. Top adult character actors and actresses (Ontiveros, Mary Ellen Trainor, Michael Paul Chan, Gene Ross) turn up as well, with an especially endearing role for pro footballer John Matuszak as the deformed Sloth, mistreated but kindhearted. It's too cute when his ears wiggle, or when he utters his memorable refrain of "HEY, YOU GUYS!".
Although this is clearly an 80s product (complete with a fleeting appearance by the Cyndi Lauper music video for the theme song), this only adds to the appeal for anybody who grew up during that era.
Seven out of 10.
Although this viewer didn't really see this in its entirety until he was himself an adult, it still worked quite well, thanks to lively filmmaking from Donner and company, a cracking pace, an assortment of elaborate "booty" traps, and an engaging bunch of kid actors, some of them making their feature film debuts. It's a true marvel of production design (by J. Michael Riva), set decoration, and cinematography (by Nick McLean, who also cameos as Mouths' father). The score (mostly by Dave Grusin) is also appropriately rousing, perfect for a movie that involves a bit of swashbuckling at the end. This is spirited entertainment with a healthy amount of humour; Mouths' instructions to Rosalita (Lupe Ontiveros) and Chunks' confessions to the Fratellis are perfect examples. Columbus even works in a reference to "Gremlins" at one point.
The talented ensemble also includes Corey Feldman as Mouth, Jeff Cohen (who opted not to continue in the acting business) as Chunk, Kerri Green as Andy, Martha Plimpton as Stef, and Ke Huy Quan as Data, the youngster who sees himself as a junior James Bond complete with (malfunctioning) gadgets. Top adult character actors and actresses (Ontiveros, Mary Ellen Trainor, Michael Paul Chan, Gene Ross) turn up as well, with an especially endearing role for pro footballer John Matuszak as the deformed Sloth, mistreated but kindhearted. It's too cute when his ears wiggle, or when he utters his memorable refrain of "HEY, YOU GUYS!".
Although this is clearly an 80s product (complete with a fleeting appearance by the Cyndi Lauper music video for the theme song), this only adds to the appeal for anybody who grew up during that era.
Seven out of 10.