The first feature film to topline Disney’s 63-year-old daffy dog, “A Goofy Movie” is a stop-gap animated entry from the studio until its next biggie, “Pocahontas,” arrives in June. None too edifying for adults, this is pretty much a small-fry-only offering that will do predictable biz at mall matinees.
Brightly drawn, fast-moving and mercifully short, efficient effort is a male bonding saga that hinges upon the fears of teenage pooch Max that he’ll grow up to be just as goofy as Dad.
A bashful kid, Max has the rug pulled out from under him when, just as he’s summoned the courage to ask his beloved Roxanne out on a date, old Goofy informs the kid that they need to spend some quality time together and drags him on a forced vacation.
Father and son hit the road, but not before Max tells Roxanne to look for him on the upcoming broadcast of a concert by rock sensation Powerline.
Plot’s main question is how Max will transform their woods-and-fishing expedition into a trip to L.A. and backstage entry at the concert. This being an animated film, logic has little to do with the answer, and climax features a gigantic musical number centering on an artist who comes off as equal parts Prince and Michael Jackson.
Soundtrack features six serviceable if unmemorable songs, and action is as good-natured as it is quickly tiresome. Goofy’s personality, while agreeable enough in support, proves a bit over the top for a headliner; by any reasonable reckoning, he’s distinctly overbearing and selfish, and responds with a bland dismissal to any opinion offered up by his son.
Pic is unusual in that most of the animation was done by a Disney unit in Paris, with further work executed by teams in Sydney, Burbank and Toronto. All technical aspects are crisp and clean.
