moving out... lock, stock and two streaming nostrils.
moving out... lock, stock and two streaming nostrils.
Member since:08.12.2001
Reviews:123
Members who trust:158
...but I got what I deserved, to quote a great song. The latest cartoon caper to hit the big screen was eagerly awaited, particularly in America, but while I can't fault production design or details, this is a lacklustre offering which doesn't extend to meet it's full capabilities, with so-so casting, a disastrous script and very few genuinely funny moments. Having said that, it's simply perfect for the little ones- I was hoping for a Simpsons-esque arrangement where there are some adult jokes; there are a few, mostly drug-related, but the problem is, they're just not that funny...
CAST (this is the billing order, the reason I noticed being that it was thoroughly unfair that Shaggy didn't take the top spot!)
Fred FREDDIE PRINZE JR Daphne SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR Shaggy MATTHEW LILLARD Velma LINDA CARDELLINI Scooby Doo voice of NEIL FANNING Mr. Mondavarious ROWAN ATKINSON
Directed by Raja Gosnell (Never Been Kissed, Home Alone 3)
STORY
The opening sequence shows the old Mystery Inc gang uncovering the true identity of a mysterious ghost in a way that will seem very familiar to fans of the cartoon... meddlin' kids, anyone? (Though not pesky, apparently!). Subsequently,
sick of Fred's arrogant grandstanding, Daphne's knack for being the damsel in distress, and Velma's frustration with her background role, the gang disband, and each goes on alone, except Shaggy and Scooby, who always have each other because "friends don't quit". (Bleeeaeeeeaaaargh). Two years later, however, they are each invited to the creepy Spooky Island resort by the owner, Emile Mondavarious, who wishes to investigate the mysterious spell that seems to have settled over the Spring Break college kids, turning them into a strange parody of cool, using their own bizarre teen language and being randomly bad-tempered and violent. No change there, then.
Performance-wise, this is a very mixed bag. Ever difficult to form a natural relationship with a tennis ball on a stick, Matthew Lillard is excellent as the gravel-voiced stoned student's best friend. He has the voice down perfectly, and has a surprisingly easy and convincing interaction with the CGI Scooby. The dog lets the action down a bit. Perhaps wanting to make it less obviously a cartoon, Scoobs was computer animated, but a 2-D animation, Roger Rabbit style, might have fitted in to the time-warped semi-psychedelic set more easily. As it was, Scooby Doo was unfortunately a touch grating. However, his speech impediment was mimicked very accurately by Neil Fanning, and Scrooby (sic) Doo lives on.
The unfortunate thing about couples who act together was pointed out the the world by Joey in Friends. If they're already getting it on, there's no sexual tension. And although Fred and Daphne are already supposed to be having some sort of clandestine relationship, it seems to be one of loved-up palliness, rather than sneaking off together in a naughty fashion to "investigate". Still, both of them are fine on their own, with Gellar a more girly Buffy (why waste the training?!) and Prinze a pretty funny self-obsessed model-type, complete with some staggeringly unflattering blond 'dos.
Velma was the star of the show for me. Truly a precursor for JK Rowling's Hermione Granger, an element of smugness has been dropped from the character and she is more the overlooked, frustrated brains of the operation. And no matter how hard Cardellini tries, with the nasal voice and the hair (apparently her own!), she's still sensationally pretty under the bottle-bottom specs, which you have to admire in the "dorky chick".
Story-wise, the film is wisely simple, so that kids don't miss the nuances, but with some unexpected and welcome moments. It knows what it is, a succession of prat-falls and fart gags (including an extended farting contest between man and man's best friend which will surely have parents wincing as their little tykes try to replicate it at home, having cried with laughter in the aisles...). There are some brief moments where there is a whiff of flirting between Fred and Velma (surely not!) and Sarah Michelle Gellars succession of little purple dresses, catsuits and sparkly knee-high boots are bound to keep older boys entertained. There are some adult jokes- the baggied Scooby snacks, Fred needing Shaggy to "talk me down", Shaggy's girl Mary-Jane, body-swapping- and a few more wouldn't go amiss. I don't want to sound miserable about this, it passed the time and raised a couple of giggles, but this is one occasion when the sequel which might be spawned may improve on the original. Having warmed up and set the groundwork, the next installment if there is one, could work on a little bit of script development. Sentimental moments crop up alarmingly often, but are thankfully balanced out by good-natured silliness.
Appearance-wise, this film is as good for adults as it is for kids- the sets are very cartoon-like and intricate, all swirling colours and creepy castles. Costumes are perfect, and there's a definite animation atmosphere. It's a shame the cast, Lillard excepted, can seem rather lacklustre at times, and overtaken by the scenery. An enjoyable but unnecessary appearance from Sugar Ray just shows up the general lack of energy, though it adds to a generally fitting soundtrack.
I wanted to give this two stars, for how much I enjoyed it, but I realised two things. Firstly, that it wasn't exactly aimed at me, and secondly, that I rarely watched the cartoon as a child because I hated Scooby (and that little bastard Scrappy later, too) and was obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons (go, Eric!). If you have kids, they'll thank you for taking them to see it, and perhaps greater fans of the cartoon would enjoy it more (or hate it entirely, it's hard to tell!). My feeling was, it passed the time, but I wouldn't really want to see it again.
Forgot to register the actual run time, but I think it clocked in at less than 1 and a half hours. It certainly didn't feel THAT long, so not too painful in that respect!
Thanks for reading,
Alex :)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Ghosts haunting spooky old factories? Hip kids being brainwashed? The Darkopalypse about ... more
to engulf the world?Scooby-Doo, where are you? But the gang have all fallen out and dissolved the Mystery Inc partnership for good. Jinkeys! Luckily a strange invi...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Ghosts haunting spooky old factories? Hip kids being brainwashed? The Darkopalypse about ... more
to engulf the world?Scooby-Doo, where are you? But the gang have all fallen out and dissolved the Mystery Inc partnership for good. Jinkeys! Luckily a strange invi...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
ZOINKS! Two years after a clash of egos forced Mystery Inc. to close itsdoors, Scooby-Doo ... more
and his clever crime-solving cohorts Fred (FREDDIE PRINZE JR.), Daphne (SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR), Shaggy (MATTHEW LILLARD) and Velma (LINDA CARDELLINI) are individu...
Advantages: Just like the cartoons, Matthew Lillard carries off Shaggy's voice superbly, Hardly notice that Scooby is an animation Disadvantages: If only it had come out about 15 years ago - I would have absolutely loved to see this as a kid!!!
Advantages: Just like the cartoons, Matthew Lillard carries off Shaggy's voice superbly, Hardly notice that Scooby is an animation Disadvantages: If only it had come out about 15 years ago - I would have absolutely loved to see this as a kid!!!
![Scooby Doo - Live Action Movie [DVD] [2002]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78529407.jpg "Scooby Doo - Live Action Movie [DVD] [2002]")
Jul 25th, 2002
(Jul 27th, 2002)
very helpful by (100%):
