Who'd have thought university would be so time-consuming!
Who'd have thought university would be so time-consuming!
Member since:19.06.2005
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You may be wondering what a 16 year old is doing watching Scooby Doo, but I must confess that I grew up watching the cartoon and this greedy dog with the hilarious voice has a kind of nostalgia value for me. The live-action, no-expense-spared film version was released four years ago now (how time flies) and I thought I would take up the chance to watch it one more time, to relive those childhood memories all over again.
The film begins with the Mystery Inc. crew falling out with each other and splitting up, but since this would not make a very interesting film, they are all reunited when a strange man called Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson) invites them on a trip to his theme park on Spooky Island, where he wants them to work out what is brain-washing the visitors. So Velma (Linda Cardellini), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Fred (Freddie Prinze Jnr.), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and of course Scooby Doo turn up and do their stuff. Although at first they compete with each other to see who can find the clues and solve the mystery, they soon realise that teamwork is the best solution of all.
No matter how fantastic the original Hana-Barbera cartoon was, at the end of the day this is still a family
movie, and therefore it has to be taken with a pinch of salt. But to be honest, it's not bad at all! The first half of the film gets it off to a good start, and really recreates the look and feel of the cartoon. The actors and costumes are spot on and I would imagine that provides most of the entertainment for fans like me: watching the animated crew come to life, complete with voices and mannerisms. Matthew Lillard is brilliant as Shaggy; he practically carries the film for me. Velma is also exactly like the original, and also very funny. Fred and Daphne aren't quite so good, but then again they're played by a Hollywood couple, so they were probably chosen on their ability to draw audiences rather than their likenesses.
Despite an over reliance on sometimes dodgy SFX, there is a lot of fun to be had in the creepy theme park setting. Rowan Atkinson has a great time playing the owner, and although not as good as he was playing Mr Bean and Johnny English, he's still quite funny. For some reason, the island's filled with good-looking, partying students, totally kitted out in psychedelic, fluorescent coloured jumpers. But it's Scooby Doo; you wouldn't want it any other way! The action scenes in the film are pretty fun as well, from the opening chase by a ghost, to the part when they're trapped in a spooky haunted house ride, and the quad bike ride around the jungle-covered island. All of it is completely kid-friendly as you'd imagine, so don't expect anything too scary.
The film has quite a lot of good laughs too, mainly provided by the legendary combination of Shaggy and the CGI Scooby. He looks quite realistic actually, and just as loveable as he always was! However, it would seem that all kids' movies have to include some kind of farting/burping jokes, and this is certainly no exception. Kids will love it, anyone over 10 will just feel embarrassed. Velma is very funny as the geeky character, and the scene where they all swap voices and end up in each others bodies is pretty good (apparently they cut out a lesbian kiss to make it a PG!)
The only thing that slightly lets it down, however, is the plot. As everyone knows, the introduction of Scrappy Doo to the cartoon was its downfall, as he's just so completely irritating and unfunny. The makers of this film realise this and write this in as part of the plot, but I just think that by including him at all was a mistake. Whenever he's on screen you want to cringe - he's that bad.
After a great first half, the ending of the film all gets a bit silly and they run out of decent ideas, leaving a boring aerial/martial arts fight between Daphne and an evil henchman; and a Temple Of Doom rip off in a cave. As for the solution of the mystery - what a disappointment! Admittedly, I didn't see it coming the first time, but it results in a whole load of boring CGI and the film just ends up a mess.
The film's soundtrack is a key ingredient of the fun factor, although again it's strictly under-tens only. It features a catchy tune by OutKast, that pop song "Things Go Bump In The Night" (I can't remember who it's by - Steps perhaps?) and a "hip-hop" reworking of the original Scooby Doo theme. Fun - yes. Good? - no.
So, to sum it up, the live action Scooby Doo is a lot like candy floss. It's light, it's fun, it's brightly coloured, and kids just love it. However, it also has a distinct lack of substance and is a bit sickly sweet. But the film knows it audience, and it certainly delivers on the fun, action/comedy premise. It's maybe a little disappointing for any adult fans of the original, but great for kids, and worth watching for the nostalgia value. All this writing's made me peckish… anyone fancy a Scooby Snack? ___________________________________________
Scooby Doo is available to buy on DVD for £5.99 from www.choicesdirect.com. I'm reviewing the film only, not the extras.
Directed By: Raja Gosnell
Starring:
Matthew Lillard… Shaggy Sarah Michelle Gellar… Daphne Freddie Prinze Jnr…. Fred Linda Cardellini… Velma Rowan Atkinson… Emile Mondavarious Isla Fisher… Mary Jane
Running Time: 88 minutes
Classification: PG (some rude humour, language and some scary action)
My Rating: 3 stars
Pictures of Scooby Doo - The Movie (DVD)
It's the Mystery Inc. gang!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
You may be wondering what a 30 year old is doing watching scooby doo. . . !!!! well I tell ya this and Thomas the Tank Engine are the only things thats on when the kids are out of bed!!!! So I have no choice! Great review. -DAZ-
ciaomeister1 16.05.2006 19:42
My boys love this so I have had to watch it again and again. Anyway you are never too old for Scooby Doo!
Ailran 08.05.2006 18:40
Cardellini is so hot, well maybe not in this but she is normally :o)
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: Cheesy lines, not-so-scary monsters, classic Scooby plot etc. Disadvantages: Probably not good for adults who weren't big fans of Scooby-Doo
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: Brilliant for the under-12 audience Disadvantages: Lacklustre (and I'll use that word a lot!) at times, little chemistry between cast members
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]")
Apr 30th, 2006
very helpful by (100%):
