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Rating: 3.5 stars

All movies seen on 12/08/2003

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Scooby-Doo (2002)

Directed by Raja Gosnell

Comedy

Most recently watched by archstanton43, sleestakk, danfinn, lordofthemovies

Overview

When the Mystery Inc. gang is invited to Spooky Island, a popular amusement park, they soon discover that the attractions aren’t the only things that are spooky. Strange things are happening, and it’s up to Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma to uncover the truth behind the mysterious happenings.

Rated PG | Length 88 minutes

Actors

Freddie Prinze Jr. | Sarah Michelle Gellar | Matthew Lillard | Linda Cardellini | Rowan Atkinson | Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. | Isla Fisher | Steven Grives | Charles Stan Frazier | Craig Bullock | Matthew Murphy Karges | Mark McGrath | Rodney Sheppard | Sam Greco | Charles Cousins | Kristian Schmid | Nicholas Hope | Neil Fanning | Scott Innes | J.P. Manoux | Chris Cruickshanks | Alex Ruiz | Sheryl Benko | Rio Nugara | David Vallon | Troy MacKinder | Michala Banas | Holly Brisley | Robert Díaz | Remi Broadway | Martin Broome | Simone Dumbleton | Jonathan Coffey | Michael Caffery | Kyas Sherriff | Celeste Gosnell | Bradley Gosnell | Cayley Gosnell | Audrey Gosnell | Kurt Duval | Janis McGavin | Emily Gosnell | Marea Lambert Barker | Kym Jackson | Danielle Starkey | Andrew Bryniarski | Craig Behenna | Keith S. Bullock | Jess Harnell | Frank Welker | Pamela Anderson

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

This review originally appeared on ZENtertainment.com. As of the last snapshot on December 8, 2003, it had received 3,595 hits.

The Only Element Missing From SCOOBY DOO is the Malt Shop

Scooby and the gang come to the silver screen in this modernized version of the classic cartoon SCOOBY-DOO series. It blends bits and pieces of the various incarnations of DOO, most noticeably the original series and THE 13 GHOSTS OF SCOOBY-DOO. Most people that enjoyed the original cartoon enjoy the film, although some may be too analytical.

The film opens on the Scooby Gang in the middle of trying to capture the real villian behind the ghost that is haunting the Wow-O Toy Factory. As usual, Velma’s plans to capture the ghost go awry because of Shaggy and Scoob. In the end, like always, they capture the ghost. However, Mystery, Inc has become quite famous and girls fawn over team leader Fred. In the resultant media aftermath, the news reporters turn to the moppy-blonde Fred and ask him how he solved the case, leaving the rest of the gang out completely. During Fred’s interview, where he takes complete credit for the capture, Velma tires of his self-grandizing and quits. This leads Daphne to quit and then Fred last. Shaggy and Scoob are left alone with the famous van, The Mystery Machine.

Cut to two years later. Mystery, Inc is still dead and Shaggy and Scooby are beach bums, only concerned with their next meal. Then a mysterious messenger from Spooky Island shows up to hire the pair to solve a mystery for the owner of the island, Mondavarious. Shaggy and Scooby eventually accept, but they were not the only members of Mystery, Inc contacted. Fred, Velma, and Daphne are brought together with Shaggy and Scooby at the airport, all in the hire of Mondavarious. Once at Spooky Island, Fred, Velma, and Daphne must learn to overcome their own anger at each other and work together again.

Writer James Gunn must be admired for taking on such a franchise with a legacy. Gunn does well in mixing traditional Scooby elements with modern jokes and references. I wish, however, there were more anachronisms. There weren’t enough “Hey, gang"s and never once was The Malt Shop (which was conveniently in every episode) referenced. Eighty percent of the time Gunn succeeds. Although it brought out a laugh at the first hint of the real villain, when that…um, person, was revealed to be the real villain, I didn’t think it was right. That’s all I’ll say about it, as he is unexpected. Although there could have been a bit more kid humor, Gunn does a nice job of blending that humor with jokes that only adults will get.

The casting was great for the most part. Freddie Prinze, Jr. as Fred I could leave or take. Freddie wasn’t bad, but he didn’t convince me either. SMG as Daphne was good, but her hair was an awful color of red and it was too limp; I wish, like Fred’s hair, that it would have had that classic style and then transitioned. The two stars, however, were Linda Cardinelli and Matthew Lillard as Velma and Shaggy respectively. The two actors nailed the voices and poses of their characters.

The other main character, besides the villain, was Scooby. Some people were upset that the Great Dane didn’t look more like the cartoon character. However, creators did a great job in realizing Scooby, although the CGI was a bit sketchy in places. Overall though, two thumbs up on Scooby.

I think most people will enjoy this film as a summer popcorn flick. Some of the nostalgia-heads will go too far in their analysis and deem the movie as trash; they’ll simply take the film too seriously, when it should not be taken that way. The movie is campy and it was designed to be that way, just as the cartoons were, and everyone should realize that. Improvements could have been made, but overall, the film is a success. If you go in expecting a fun time, then you should come out pleased overall.

Here’s to hoping that Scooby-Dum will make an appearance in the inevitable sequel.

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