A Goofy Movie
It's the last day of school, and Max wants to catch the eye of Roxanne, one of the more attractive girls in school. But how can you be cool when your dad's Goofy? Stage an impromptu concert at the final assembly, that's how! Or at least it sounded good until Principal Mazer found out. Goofy finds out about his son's antics (sort of), and decides a fishing trip, like his dad took him on, is the solution. Of course, he doesn't know that Max finally lands a date with Roxanne for a party thrown by the class valedictorian. Through the movie, Goofy tries to bring Max out of his shell, while Max resents being taken away, and lying to Roxanne about the trip (he tells her he & his dad will be appearing on TV at the PowerLine concert in LA). Will Max sink or swim? Will Goofy goof up his son's first shot at romance? Will Bigfoot step back? And what about those nuns?
Working with a respectable budget of $18.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $35.3M in global revenue (+96% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
A Goofy Movie (1995) demonstrates precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Kevin Lima's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 18 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Max Goof
Goofy
Roxanne
Pete
P.J.
Bobby Zimuruski
Main Cast & Characters
Max Goof
Played by Jason Marsden
A teenage dog trying to impress his crush while dealing with his embarrassing father
Goofy
Played by Bill Farmer
Max's well-meaning but clumsy father who takes his son on a road trip to reconnect
Roxanne
Played by Kellie Martin
Max's crush, a kind and genuine girl who likes him for who he is
Pete
Played by Jim Cummings
Goofy's neighbor who represents conventional success and traditional parenting
P.J.
Played by Rob Paulsen
Pete's son and Max's best friend, loyal but anxious and fearful of his father
Bobby Zimuruski
Played by Pauly Shore
Max's enthusiastic and goofy friend who provides comic relief
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Max dreams of being on stage with Powerline, trying to impress Roxanne, establishing his desire to be cool and noticed rather than be seen as his goofy father's son.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when Goofy announces he's taking Max on a father-son fishing trip, derailing Max's promise to take Roxanne to the Powerline concert. Max's carefully constructed cool persona is threatened.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Max and Goofy hit the road. Max commits to his deception, choosing to manipulate the trip rather than be honest with his father about what he really wants., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 58 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Goofy falls from the car during their argument, plummeting toward the waterfall. Max watches his father nearly die, the "whiff of death" that makes him realize what truly matters., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 62 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Goofy takes Max to the Powerline concert. Max gets on stage but chooses to bring his father up too, publicly embracing who he really is rather than the manufactured cool persona. They perform together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Goofy Movie's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping A Goofy Movie against these established plot points, we can identify how Kevin Lima utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Goofy Movie within the animation genre.
Kevin Lima's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Kevin Lima films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. A Goofy Movie exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Kevin Lima filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Kevin Lima analyses, see Enchanted.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Max dreams of being on stage with Powerline, trying to impress Roxanne, establishing his desire to be cool and noticed rather than be seen as his goofy father's son.
Theme
Principal Mazur tells Goofy that Max needs his father's guidance: "Your son needs you." The theme of authentic father-son connection is stated.
Worldbuilding
Max's last day of school before summer. He's desperately trying to impress Roxanne while avoiding being seen as a loser. Goofy is an embarrassing, well-meaning father who doesn't understand Max is growing up.
Disruption
Goofy announces he's taking Max on a father-son fishing trip, derailing Max's promise to take Roxanne to the Powerline concert. Max's carefully constructed cool persona is threatened.
Resistance
Max resists the trip, tries to get out of it, and eventually deceives his father by secretly planning to reroute to the Powerline concert in Los Angeles instead of Lake Destiny.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Max and Goofy hit the road. Max commits to his deception, choosing to manipulate the trip rather than be honest with his father about what he really wants.
Premise
The road trip adventure: navigating mishaps, Lester's Possum Park, near-death experiences, and bonding moments. Max subtly redirects their route while Goofy remains oblivious, trying to connect with his son.
Opposition
Goofy discovers Max changed the map. The lie is revealed. Their relationship deteriorates as Goofy feels betrayed and Max feels controlled. Pete's earlier warnings about teenage sons echo in Goofy's mind.
Collapse
Goofy falls from the car during their argument, plummeting toward the waterfall. Max watches his father nearly die, the "whiff of death" that makes him realize what truly matters.
Crisis
Max risks his life to save Goofy with the "Perfect Cast" fishing technique. In the dark night of the soul after the rescue, both are shaken but the wall between them remains.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Goofy takes Max to the Powerline concert. Max gets on stage but chooses to bring his father up too, publicly embracing who he really is rather than the manufactured cool persona. They perform together.