All the screenshots in this post were taken directly from the movie by me.
I've spoken to you several times about why I consider "A Goofy Movie" one of the most important films I've ever seen, a statement that might sound quite ironic or sarcastic if you ignore the context, but I couldn't be more honest if I tried.
Although I wasn't born when the film, directed by Kevin Lima, originally premiered in 1995 (and I discovered it in the middle of one of those infamous mid-2000s Disney Channel reruns), it ended up being a piece of art that completely shaped the way I see cinema, taking one of the most recognizable characters in all of modern popular culture and deconstructing him through a refreshing lens that simultaneously manages to powerfully evoke '90s nostalgia and offer a sense of impressive timelessness. The key? It's a brilliant road trip movie where we can all find something of ourselves.
Like me, there are thousands of people around the world who feel that same connection to The Goofy Movie, a direct consequence of the combination of a good plot, excellent songs, and a visual style that perfectly captured the most distinctive aspects of the "cool" and "edgy" aesthetic of the 90s, without sacrificing the childlike charm that has characterized the Mickey and Friends universe since its inception, roughly a century ago.
"Not Just a Goof" is built around this legacy, a documentary released in April 2025 with the aim of celebrating Disney's underdog theatrical release. Considering that at the time, it was a box office flop, it wasn't until many years later that the film managed to amass a passionate fan base capable of understanding the story's true purpose and accepting its disruptive nature as a positive thing.
Directed by Eric Kimelton and Christopher Ninness, "Not Just a Goof" is an introspective look at the legacy of "A Goofy Movie," achieved by interspersing current interviews with previously unseen footage from the film's production found in the hands of its director, Kevin Lima.
And despite its extremely simple structure, it's easy to understand why A Goofy Movie has garnered so much love over the years. It examines its music, its brilliant animation style, and the many creative decisions that were originally criticized only for time to prove the great minds behind them right.
Surprisingly, in "Not Just a Goof," Disney doesn't feel the need to sugarcoat the more bitter aspects of its production, accepting the lack of faith they had in A Goofy Movie, and how Jeffrey Katzenberg ended up being an essential part of several of its virtues.
It's a solid documentary that will allow fans of A Goofy Movie to relive its best moments from a new perspective, and perhaps will bring it closer to those who are unfamiliar with it.
*This score
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