This genre gets its name from the legend of Jason
and the Argonauts. This is any quest movie or any tale about a trip
or a journey; for Jason it begins when he’s asked to retrieve
the Golden Fleece (a sheepskin) in order to prove his bravery and
become king. Jason collects a team and off they go on many an
adventure — until they get to the end and realize it
wasn’t about the fleece at all, but about what Jason learned
along the way that would make him a better leader. Any time we go
“on the road,” it’s a Golden Fleece.
Three elements appear in every Golden Fleece
story:
1. A “road” spanning oceans, time
— or across the street — so long as it demarcates
growth. (It often includes a “road apple” that stops
the trip cold.)
2. A “team” or a buddy the hero needs
to guide him along the way. Usually, it’s those who represent
the things the hero doesn’t have: skill, experience, or
attitude.
3. A “prize” that’s sought and
is something primal: going home, securing a treasure, or re-gaining
a birthright.
Examples: Alice in Wonderland (2010), Date Night,
Up, The Hangover, Maria Full of Grace, Saving Private
Ryan
