It isn’t all that much of a breakthrough when a Saturday morning cartoon character jumps to the silver screen these days. When we have the “Flintstones”, “Rocky & Bullwinkle”, and “Josie and the Pussycats”. This time it’s that loveable dog Scooby Doo and his cohorts from the “Mystery Machine”. It seems to have lost its allure. Are we getting overblown with these kinds of films or are the studios just in search of another elusive franchise?

The cartoons of Scooby Doo were simple and followed the most basic of premises. Scooby and his gang would solve mysteries and have the crook unmasked within a half-hour. There was always a scary monster, ghost or alien that would make Scooby and his pal Shaggy scream. It was fun light and hilarious. It was also an incredible success, the character of Scooby Doo was showcased across television screens for over fifteen years and has gone on to be the cornerstone of cartoon re-runs on cable. Scooby recently released a series of “direct-to-video” movies, which have burned off video shelves. It’s almost natural that a Scooby Doo live-action movie would come to a multiplex near you.

In the feature length “live-action” version of the popular cartoon, there are troubles brewing for Scooby and his friends. They have just wrapped up the latest of their mysteries and as usual “surfer-looking” Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.) gets all the attention. This is maddening for the rest of the gang. Velma (Linda Cardellini), the brains of the gang, is frustrated her part in solving the mystery is always dismissed by the media. Daphne (Sarah Michelle Geller), the beauty of the gang, is frustrated that no one thinks she can be anything more than the damsel in distress. Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Scooby try to hold the gang together but they fail and “Mystery Inc.” eventually folds.

Five years later, the gang is tricked into coming to a theme park called Spooky Island to solve a mystery. The mystery has to do with why the college students who come to Spooky Island are turning into versions of the “Stepford Children”. Can the gang keep their differences in check long enough to unmask the bad-guy? Will Shaggy and Scooby ever fill their stomachs?

The biggest problem with making this kind of film is that you have to know the cartoons. Obviously the filmmakers didn’t when they made Scooby Doo. They know a little about what works with Shaggy and Scooby but for the most part struggle to find humor. You have to remember is that the characters are simple and two-dimensional. They don’t have problems and concerns like you and me.

What could have helped in making this film is that if the filmmakers had watched the first “direct-to-video” Scooby movie, “Scooby Doo on Zombie Island” which updates the characters and the franchise without damaging what makes them so much fun. This “straight-to-video” movie was imaginative and inviting. It brought forth why we love Scooby Doo and the gang so much. It understood the characters.

Other than a misunderstanding of cartoon characters, the film has a plot or “mystery” that is confusing and complicated. Why do we need such a giant and detailed mystery when the cartoons were simple and fun?

My third problem was how the film did Scooby himself. I liked that in the movie version of “Rocky & Bullwinkle” that the characters were looked like themselves. Why didn’t they do that with Scooby? If you are going with a CGI dog then why not complete the transition with the actual character. He does grow on you as the movie progresses but it still really bugged me.

I am sure children will enjoy the flashy texture and antics of Scooby and Shaggy but I have to say that adults will be bored to tears.

The best part of the film by far is Matthew Lillard who encompasses the character of Shaggy to a tee. I don’t know how he interacted with the CGI dog so well but it was amazing. Lillard is the saving grace of this movie.

I also liked Cardellini as Velma because she makes Velma memorable which is a departure from the cartoon. I liked her performance, voice and she out acts Geller and Prize in every scene.

Both Geller and Prinze are very forgettable in their performances and it made me very disappointed since they are supposed to be the stars of this vehicle. They basically stand around and whine in every scene.

Will cartoon movies ever make a successful transition? Probably not as long as Hollywood continues to give cartoon characters doses of reality in the scripts. Other than “George of the Jungle”, “Casper” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” there hasn’t been a success. But keep trying.

“Scooby Doo” (2002) — 2 of 5
“Scooby Doo on Zombie Island” (1998) — 3.5 of 5
“So Says the Soothsayer.”

During my youth, I was often entertained by the animated adventures of Scooby Doo and his friends as they solved mysteries and crimes wherever they went with humor and good cheer. As I grew up, my Scooby watching was relegated to little more than snippets of shows when I was channel surfing or the occasional show when nothing else was on.

When I heard that a live-action film was in the works my interest was peaked, but I was unsure of the wisdom of a CGI Scooby, and was less than thrilled with some of the casting choices. My concerns grew as pictures from the set and early trailers made the film look like an uninspired mess and a disaster in the making. I went into the film screener this morning with an open mind, but concerned that a favorite show of my childhood was about to be massacred on the big screen. Thankfully, the film is a faithful live action interpretation of the classic show, which stays true to the characters of the show, and adds a touch of modern styles and attitudes to make it fun for all ages.

The film starts at the end of a mystery where Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), has been taken hostage by a ghost monster in a toy factory leaving the stylish but clueless Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.), and the nerdy but creative Velma (Linda Cardellini), to put their trap into motion. As any fan of the show can tell you, things rarely go as planned for the team, and naturally Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), and his buddy Scoobby Doo disrupt the original plan yet cause the mission to succeed through blind luck and desperation brought on by fear. As the team finishes a press conference where they unmask the villain and explain how the mystery was solved, fighting amongst the group arises. It seems that Fred, Daphne, and Velma are upset over their importance to the group, and are upset that the dull but charismatic Fred is the point person for all of the media attention that the group receives, and want their talents to be properly credited. The group splits up and goes their separate ways, leaving Shaggy and Scooby to live in the Mystery Machine by the beach. The film jumps two years into the future where a messenger for Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson), invites Shaggy and Scooby to tour his new amusement park island resort, and of course will compensate them accordingly. Shaggy is not interested in the job or the money until the promise of all you can eat is offered and before you can say buffet line, they are at the airport. At the airport, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are reunited as they have been invited to the island unbeknownst to the others, rich girl Daphne plans to leave, and it takes Shaggy's plea for an end to the bitterness and Velma's secret crush on Fred to get them to come along. Each member of the feuding trio thinks that the island will allow them to solve the mystery, and will allow them to show their true worth once and for all.

What follows is a fun-filled romp as the group sets out to uncover the mystery of the island, and why college students appear to leave the island as brainwashed zombies. There are some good laughs in the film, and it was obvious that Director Rajna Gossell is a fan of the show, and the team of writers, (Credited as WGA), were fans of the show as well. The film does not rely on catchy FX, great acting, or a tight story to entertain, it lets the characters do that, and the cast seems to be having a blast making this film. Prinze and Gellar are great playing the vapid and the spoiled without losing any of the audience, as they are a likable if at times misguided pair. Cardellini nails Thelma down to the crawling on the floor looking for her glasses, and barely hiding her crush for Fred beneath her high IQ, and creativity. The real star of the show is Lillard who does a spot on Shaggy that is amazing. His voice, walk, and mannerisms are exact replicas of the character, and it is obvious that he has done a large amount of preparations in his role. His character is also given the most to do, as he is the one who is most often paired with the CGI Scooby Doo, and who gets to deliver many good lines. Scott Innes who has voiced the animated Scooby for many years is in fine form as he brings the character to life with all of the humor, charm and compassion of his animated counterpart. There are some moments of the film that may not be ideal for younger viewers, as there are drug references, flatulence jokes, as well as some dog pee humor, however I saw many of the adults at the screener laughing along with the children at the screener.

What the film boils down to is a fun and faithful love action version of the classic cartoon series. The characters have about as much depth and diversity as the cartoon series, yet the film is a very silly and enjoyable romp, and if you approach the movie with the same expectations you have of the cartoon show, then you might just have a good time.

3.5 stars out of 5