Review: 'Scooby-Doo' Finds Success With Sequel
Movie Has Comic Bite; Family-Friendly Tone
POSTED: 10:27 a.m. EST March 26, 2004
'Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed' (PG)
(out of four)
If you're not sure you want to see "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed," quit your fumbling and just "doo" it: it's a high-spirited sequel that easily exceeds the original.
This time around, the Mystery Inc. gang -- Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Velma (Linda Cardellini), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Scooby (voice of Neil Fanning) -- are trying to foil the plans of a masked villain who uses a "monster machine" to reproduce their classic foes, including the 10,000 Volt Ghost, the Pterodactyl Ghost, the Black Knight Ghost and the Creeper, to take over their hometown of Coolsville.
The problem is, there's a thorn in Mystery Inc.'s side that's preventing the group from doing from doing its job: a brash television reporter (Alicia Silverstone) who is quoting Fred out of context at every turn. As a result, the press bashing takes a toll on the gang's confidence level -- and the case becomes even more complicated by the involvement of a mysterious museum curator (Seth Green) and a surly ex-con (Peter Boyle).
While "Scooby-Doo 2" suffers from a thin plot, director Raja Gosnell makes up for it with great visual effects, vibrant costumes and lush sets. In addition, the core group delivers entertaining performances -- chief among them is the lovable Scooby-Doo, who is once again convincing in computer-generated form, and Lillard, ho continues to channel Shaggy from the Hanna-Barberra cartoon.
Prinze, Gellar and Cardellini, meanwhile, match up well again to their cartoon counterparts Fred, Daphne and Velma, respectively. Plus, some personal dilemmas are thrown in for the three characters, which results in a couple of nice lessons for viewers to absorb.
Forget about what the highbrow critics think; "Scooby-Doo 2" already knows it isn't Shakespeare, and for what it is, it's a great family movie. Not every movie needs to be brain surgery as long as it aims to please its intended audience -- and that's exactly what the movie does. In the end, all the elements are there to make your kids happy -- including the requisite toilet humor that's sure to make them giggle with delight.
As for the "Monsters" referred to in the title, they might spook the youngest of tots at times (the Pterodactyl Ghost has a "Jurassic Park" thing going), but for the most part, the content of the film is relatively harmless.
(out of four)
If you're not sure you want to see "Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed," quit your fumbling and just "doo" it: it's a high-spirited sequel that easily exceeds the original.
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