Scooby-Doo

SF elements

Scooby-Doo !

1. Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002)
2. Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)

2002 / DVD

Scooby-Doo: The Movie

Review

The Mystery Inc gang acrimoniously split up two years ago, but have been tricked back together to solve the mystery of the teenage holiday resort of Spooky Island. Loads of imaginative set-piece chases later, the gang save the day in the usual manner -- accompanied by lots of gags, and sly references to the original series.

Every review I've read of this has panned it mercilessly -- and I don't know why -- I thoroughly enjoyed it. The tongue-in-cheek updating is perfect -- initially making Daphne [Sarah Michelle Gellar] an airhead, and Fred [Freddie Prinz Jr] a self-obsessed narcissist (all of which seems to have upset some reviewers, but merely confirms my suspicions...). Shaggy [Matthew Lillard] is flawless (which all the reviewers admit). The pacing is fine, the plot is spot on, the revelation of the identity of the evil genius is just, well, genius, and the SFX are great -- Scooby is Scooby.

Rating: 3.5

[ unmissable | great stuff | worth watching | mind candy | waste of time | unfinishable ]

2004 / DVD

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

Review

The team are being feted by their hometown Coolsville, with the opening of a museum dedicated to their work, exhibiting the various monster-costumes worn by the villains they unmasked. But then some costumes are stolen, the museum is wrecked, and the real monsters seem to be on the loose. And Shaggy and Scooby realise they are liabilities, and go off to prove themselves by investigating by themselves.

Well, if the critics panned the previous film, they won't like this one, either, because it's more of the same: good action scenes, great special effects, clever references to (and sly questioning of) the original series, held together by a paper-thin plot. After a slightly slow start, I again enjoyed it.

Rating: 3.5

[ unmissable | great stuff | worth watching | mind candy | waste of time | unfinishable ]