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A group of kids who call themselves the Goonies rally together for one last adventure before they’re all forced by a real estate meanie to move away from their Pacific northwest coastal community. They find a map and follow it to hidden treasure, encountering criminals on the run from the law, a deformed cellar-dweller, bats, booby traps, and more. I was eleven when I first saw The Goonies, so I’m incapable of removing nostalgia and sentimental value from any review of the movie. I rewatch it every year or so, so it must have done something right.

The young cast is a vibrant, engaging bunch that includes Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), Jeff Cohen, Kerri Green, and Martha Plimpton. Director Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon, Superman) wrangles them well. Can you imagine trying to maintain continuity with seven child actors running through the screen all the time? The adult cast includes Anne Ramsey (Throw Mama from the Train), Joe Pantoliano, Robert Davi, and the late Mary Ellen Trainor. Screenwriter Chris Columbus (future Harry Potter director) adapts from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. Oh, and Cyndi Lauper sings the title song.

The Goonies is a well-made piece of family entertainment (raunchier in places than you’d expect) that will probably hold onto most of its fan base no matter how old they get. The cheese to charm ratio may not be the same for audiences discovering the film in 2010, but I’d argue The Goonies still does one thing extraordinarily well — it exploits the need for childhood escapism. To that end, part of me will probably always be exploring caves in search of One Eyed Willie’s treasure… and pining after Josh Brolin.