Well worth the watch for any Scooby-Doo fan who is open to different opinions and interpretations of 'the greatest mystery of all' (so says the trailer) - how Mystery Inc became Mystery Inc.
A sweet, funny, unassuming hour and twenty minutes with a story line that isn't as obvious as it first appears... Yes, the plot actually has fairly strong twists that will make you think! Surprising, really, but that's not all this gem has to offer.
The kids were generally well chosen; Fred is a good-looking chauvinist in the form of a high school jock, with a nice boy interior. Daphne (although everything to depict Daphne is there, she never really quite convinces me) is a stuck-up, well groomed daddy's girl dramatist, who is actually quite a sensible, bright person underneath. Velma is suitably brainy (if slightly overdone) and speaks awkwardly, although I'm not sure if this is just the actress. But it comes off rather well anyway. Of course, during the film there is the customary make-over of Velma by Daphne, but thankfully she returns to her orange sweater wearing self soon after.
Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers is perhaps the best of the bunch; everything from his adolescent, teetering voice to his brown corduroy slacks, to his 'identical to cartoon Shaggy's' shaggy goatee. Shaggy was the character I most enjoyed watching and felt sorry for, laughed at and adored Scooby with. With a duly suspicious supporting cast, the whole thing is smooth, well executed and likable. Another bonus; it's not too soppy either; something I've come to expect from American kid's films *coughHighSchoolMusicalcough*. With less sap than the 2002 film featuring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Geller and others, I suspect when making films for teens (which this one is) they've cut down on the amount as they tend to be perceptive and dislike over usage of it. In fact, in this film most of the sap is appropriate and well disguised.
Sure, some of the details aren't quite there - Fred isn't blond (maybe he dyed it later in life) and oddly enough everything takes place in the 21st century; strange to hear the words 'CD, DVD, Mp3' come out of Shaggy's mouth as well as multiple uses of the words 'hot' and 'hottie'. But be a good sport and over look these (to appeal to the younger generation it would be natural to update the gang to the 21st century anyway) and you'll end up having a pretty good time. Even Scooby's animation is pretty good for a straight-to-DVD movie. And, as a plus, Frank Welker, the original Scooby himself, voices him.
Just watch out for the montage at the end as the gang spray up the van; any of the scenes look familiar to you? Well, I've got 4 words for you. Original series title sequence. Just re-shot with the new actors. A nod to the die hard fans and a surprisingly classy way to finish.
So, we find out how the fantastic 5 came to be; but we also get more questions answered. How did Scooby become Shaggy's dog? Why do the meddling kids have such a hunger for mysteries (absolving Shaggy)?
Where do the Scooby Snax come from? What are the origins of the Mystery Machine? Trust me, it's well worth the watch, even if you never see it again.
And even if you; yes, you, the old fan with the original characters still in the packaging; dismiss this as stupid and ruining the old cartoons: lighten up. It may be stupid, but I know plenty of kids - and adults - will love this.
A sweet, funny, unassuming hour and twenty minutes with a story line that isn't as obvious as it first appears... Yes, the plot actually has fairly strong twists that will make you think! Surprising, really, but that's not all this gem has to offer.
The kids were generally well chosen; Fred is a good-looking chauvinist in the form of a high school jock, with a nice boy interior. Daphne (although everything to depict Daphne is there, she never really quite convinces me) is a stuck-up, well groomed daddy's girl dramatist, who is actually quite a sensible, bright person underneath. Velma is suitably brainy (if slightly overdone) and speaks awkwardly, although I'm not sure if this is just the actress. But it comes off rather well anyway. Of course, during the film there is the customary make-over of Velma by Daphne, but thankfully she returns to her orange sweater wearing self soon after.
Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers is perhaps the best of the bunch; everything from his adolescent, teetering voice to his brown corduroy slacks, to his 'identical to cartoon Shaggy's' shaggy goatee. Shaggy was the character I most enjoyed watching and felt sorry for, laughed at and adored Scooby with. With a duly suspicious supporting cast, the whole thing is smooth, well executed and likable. Another bonus; it's not too soppy either; something I've come to expect from American kid's films *coughHighSchoolMusicalcough*. With less sap than the 2002 film featuring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Geller and others, I suspect when making films for teens (which this one is) they've cut down on the amount as they tend to be perceptive and dislike over usage of it. In fact, in this film most of the sap is appropriate and well disguised.
Sure, some of the details aren't quite there - Fred isn't blond (maybe he dyed it later in life) and oddly enough everything takes place in the 21st century; strange to hear the words 'CD, DVD, Mp3' come out of Shaggy's mouth as well as multiple uses of the words 'hot' and 'hottie'. But be a good sport and over look these (to appeal to the younger generation it would be natural to update the gang to the 21st century anyway) and you'll end up having a pretty good time. Even Scooby's animation is pretty good for a straight-to-DVD movie. And, as a plus, Frank Welker, the original Scooby himself, voices him.
Just watch out for the montage at the end as the gang spray up the van; any of the scenes look familiar to you? Well, I've got 4 words for you. Original series title sequence. Just re-shot with the new actors. A nod to the die hard fans and a surprisingly classy way to finish.
So, we find out how the fantastic 5 came to be; but we also get more questions answered. How did Scooby become Shaggy's dog? Why do the meddling kids have such a hunger for mysteries (absolving Shaggy)?
Where do the Scooby Snax come from? What are the origins of the Mystery Machine? Trust me, it's well worth the watch, even if you never see it again.
And even if you; yes, you, the old fan with the original characters still in the packaging; dismiss this as stupid and ruining the old cartoons: lighten up. It may be stupid, but I know plenty of kids - and adults - will love this.