Movie Review:

SCOOBY-DOO 2

MONSTERS UNLEASHED

by Lynn B.

If all those Scooby ghosts from the t.v. show haunted your parents when they were kids, or you’ve been watching them in “Scooby” re-runs, you’re all in luck. They’re back with a lot of cool embellishments in the movie sequel!

The members of Mystery, Inc. Scooby Doo, (himself), Shaggy (Matt Lillard), Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Velma (Linda Cardellini) and Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar) are the toast of the town of Coolsville. Each member has a bevy of look-alike groupies.. including Scooby’s pooch patrol. They’ve been solving crimes and pulling rescues for the citizens for a while and finally they are the guests of honor when a new museum opens in town displaying costumes worn by the many bad guys they’ve caught. Velma has the hots for dorky museum curator (Seth Green) but is afraid to show it. Daphne and Fred have let success go to their heads a bit. Snooty t.v. reporter Heather Jasper-Howe (Alicia Silverstone), doesn’t seem that fond of the group.

The party comes to a halt when a mysterious masked man and a suddenly real Pterodactyl Ghost crash the party and steal the costumes of the Black Knight, the 10,000 Volt Ghost and others. The gang isn’t able to stop the theft so their reputation is tarnished. Scooby and Shaggy are already full of self-doubt for their many screw-ups over the years. Mystery Inc. sets out to find out who is behind creating real monsters of what were once just guys in suits and handle their own personal problems along the way.

A lot of tributes to the t.v. show in this sequel make it a fun walk down memory lane for those of us who watched the original show. The action slows down awkwardly for some personal crisis moments for the Mystery Inc. gang but at least the movie makes a stab at character development. The plot is just like the original show. Monster or monsters strike, Mystery Inc. gets on the case, finds clues, Scooby and Shaggy mess up but the villain is finally unmasked.

In this case, there is actually a mystery that you might not solve correctly right away and that’s fun. The jokes are funny for parents and kids and teens and there are enough action and effects to catch your eye. The relationship between Scooby and Shaggy is better represented here and they even make some of their patented action moves from the t.v. show (Scooby hops in Shaggy’s arms when he’s scared and has to be carried).

“Scooby 2” is harmless fun and new cast members Seth Green, Alicia Silverstone and Peter Boyle add more comic moments. Take your pals and the younger sis or bro and go enjoy.

This film is rated PG

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