As a lifelong movie enthusiast, I’ve always dreamed of the day when my entire family could enjoy the same film together. My husband has been eager to share his cherished ‘80s classics with our three kids since they first encountered the adventures of a certain whiny character. “The whiny kid again?” I chuckled, telling him they weren’t quite ready for that.
Once they moved past their Jessie and iCarly phases, he declared it was time to introduce them to “real movies,” starting with Star Wars. He looked to me, anticipating an enthusiastic reaction. But I hesitated, recalling my own childhood films.
“What about The Goonies?” he suggested. “It’s a classic; they’ll love it!” he insisted, mimicking the famous line “Baby Ruth” à la Sloth.
I decided to embrace the moment, knowing sometimes you just have to let things unfold. We gathered the girls and explained we’d be watching a movie from our childhood. My youngest, Lily, was incredulous. “You mean you had TVs for movies back then?”
“Yes, your dad had a TV, and we watched movies on it. This one is called The Goonies, and your dad loved it. I’m sure you will too.” My middle child, Ava, responded with an exaggerated eye roll.
As the film started, the bubbly title prompted them to chant, “Goonies!” They then wondered aloud, “What even is a goonie?” My husband chimed in, explaining, “A goonie is someone who doesn’t quite fit in.”
“Were you a Goonie, Dad? Did you not fit in?” Lily asked, patting his shoulder sympathetically.
“No, I wasn’t a Goonie. Just watch the movie,” he replied, a mix of annoyance and excitement evident in his tone.
I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at the sight of Josh Brolin in his iconic sweatsuit and headband. “Why is he dressed like that? Did he have surgery and regular clothes hurt him now?” Lily queried.
After about half an hour of what we thought was polite viewing, my husband looked at me with a hopeful grin. “See? They like it! Right, girls?” But their silence spoke volumes.
“It’s good, right?” he pressed, but three sets of blue eyes turned to me and back to him. “Actually, Dad, it’s not very good. It’s kind of boring.”
“It’s alright, girls,” I intervened. “Why don’t you go jump on the trampoline?”
“Sorry, Dad. We just… prefer movies that aren’t from the olden days. But you can keep watching.” They dashed out, leaving us behind.
A few weeks later, we tried again to bond over a classic, this time opting for Back to the Future. We ordered it on demand, made popcorn, and snuggled on the couch.
“So what does ‘Back to the Future’ mean? Shouldn’t it be ‘To the Future’ or ‘Back in Time’? You can’t go back to the future, can you?” my daughter Mia asked.
“Can we just watch the movie?” my husband said, taking a deep breath.
This time, surprisingly, they were captivated. The high school themes resonated with them, and while I didn’t recall this many mature references, I figured it was fine considering they had already seen Pitch Perfect.
My husband stole glances at me, beaming as they laughed throughout the film. By the time we finished the Back to the Future trilogy, the girls were eager for more “old-time” movies. We even grabbed the Star Wars trilogy during a Blockbuster going-out-of-business sale. They watched Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back in one sitting, and to my husband’s dismay, they finished Return of the Jedi while he was at work, their excitement bubbling over.
Connecting our childhood favorites with those of our children creates a unique bond. We may never truly experience childhood together, but showing them glimpses of our past feels like a magical playdate. Perhaps they’re ready for Can’t Buy Me Love next.
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Summary
Sharing beloved childhood movies with our children can lead to humorous and enlightening experiences. While classics like The Goonies might not resonate as we hoped, films like Back to the Future can bridge generational gaps, creating cherished family memories. As parents, we continuously strive to connect our past with our children’s present, making for delightful moments that no one can forget.