Scooby-Doo (2002) - Film Fixation

Scooby-Doo (2002) Not a Review

I am incapable of giving this movie a review that isn't colored by nostalgia for both Scooby, the actors and the movie itself. I saw it in the theater and bought the soundtrack soon after. 

The advertising campaign featured a bait and switch trailer that pretended to be a Batman movie trailer before revealing Scooby. It confused me at the time because I knew there wasn't a Batman movie coming out. When the movie was out, I was deeply disappointed at the line of toys. They didn't have enough and I wanted them to make figures that looked like the actors in the film. 

To me, Matthew Lillard was the biggest star in the film. Between Hackers and Scream, I had known his name for years. I'm so happy he's continued as the voice of Shaggy. He nailed the role. He brought the heart it needed. He is my favorite part of this movie.

Freddie Prinze Jr was the star of She's All That and I Know What You Did Last Summer and the sequel. This is my favorite role of his. But those movies were huge. He doesn't get enough credit. I think he's a charming actor. 

I did not recognize Linda Cardellini when I first saw the film. I didn't know her but I knew her characters like her turn as Chutney in Legally Blonde. I had see her in multiple films and television shows before her turn as Velma. She's a really good actress who embodies Velma.

Sarah Michelle Gellar was Buffy. I didn't find what they did with Daphne's character too interesting. It was fine. I liked Sarah Michelle Gellar in the movie. But Sarah Michelle Gellar was already Buffy and the addition of the fight scenes made it feel a little like Buffy with dyed hair.

The production design is a close second to Matthew Lillard's turn as Shaggy. Spooky island is filled with details like concession booths in the background of their arrival to Spooky Island. The locations and props are fantastic.

Sugar Ray attacking Shaggy and Scooby as monsters was really fun to see.  The film might have missed a trick by not using them to reference the classic "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" that featured a celebrity cameo in each episode.

The movie does a good job of adapting Scooby-Doo to the big screen and bringing in original ideas.

Many people criticize for a variety of reasons specific to them. My big issue with this film is the computer graphics. CG Scooby I'm okay with because they translated an animated character to an animated character. Matthew Lillard helps bring that character to life through his performance as Shaggy. But details like the background theme park would be more visually compelling if they had the physical reality of models but that's just my opinion on the matter.

Spoiler for a 20 year old film

If you know this movie, you probably know the identity of the man behind the mask. It was Scrappy all along. I don't hate Scrappy-Doo. I have seen every episode of every show with him. He was not the problem. The writing was the problem. Particularly the Scooby and Scrappy shorts where they just did things. They did random things.

I feel for the writers in that situation because they were trying something different and new. It didn't always work but they tried and it kept the show going. We probably wouldn't have this film if not for Scrappy-Doo. 

The only character from the Scooby-Doo franchise that has my deep and unending hatred is Deputy Dusty. I hate him. I curse his creation. He was the worst.