The Laws of Physics in A Goofy Movie
I.
Introduction
a.
Introduce “A Goofy Movie”
b.
Hypothesis: The physics in the “Goof Troop”
world of “A Goofy Movie” are very different than our reality.
II.
Squash and Stretch—Objects being stretched
beyond their physical capabilities or characters surviving fatal accidents
a.
Goofy vacuuming up large objects in Max’s room—the
nozzle wouldn’t be able to handle objects that size or be able to suck them up
so quickly
b.
Pete’s huge RV, setting up all sorts of
equipment—the porch bursts out with intact flower pots/tables, the hot tub
bursts out already filled, etc
c.
The car explosion one, not killing Goofy, and
two, arcing him into the roof of Roxanne’s house
d.
Max and Goofy are both truly terrified at the
prospect of Goofy tumbling down the falls, showing that even though this film
is primarily slapstick, rules of terminal velocity remain more or less intact
III.
Balance and Weight- Objects or characters
defying gravity
a.
Max swinging from rope for his Powerline dance
number in front of the school— his weight wouldn’t be supported by it or at
least he wouldn’t be arcing in that way
b.
Goofy at the ball game—falls from balcony while
trying to catch a foul ball and is caught on a wire, continues to plummet down
to dugout where a player has enough time to sign the ball, and then Goofy is
rocketed back up from the wire back to his seat
c.
Runaway car scene—many antics with Goofy and Max
keeping up with the car and the car balancing on a thin steel road barrier, bouncing
from rock to rock, and arcing into the river
d.
The way the water beds in the inn react to the
weight of the characters is pretty accurate
IV.
“The Perfect Cast”- This is a special section
for Goofy’s “perfect cast” that he demonstrates to Max (and that Max later
casts himself)
a.
The demonstration cast—Goofy twirls the line
around him multiple times as he spins getting the launch of the cast ready (it
doesn’t tangle at all). When he arcs it backwards it flies all the way over to
Pete’s grill, snags a steak, is able to drag the steak back with it as it’s
swung back, and lands with the attached steak on the other side of the lake.
b.
Goofy in peril—the whole scene can be examined—first,
Max is in peril, Goofy is able to stop the car with the fishing line, Max has a
makeshift parachute from parts of the car. Then when Goofy is in peril, Max
casts “the perfect cast”—line doesn’t tangle, the line goes on seemingly
endlessly and catches a plummeting Goofy, his weight is supported by the
fishing line, and the makeshift parachute successfully holds them both up
V.
Conclusion
a.
Our world versus a slapstick animated one
b.
The laws are intentionally broken for comedic
value and to support the “toony” world these characters exist in
