Scoob!

A Tony Cervone-directed computer-generated imagery animated movie that attempts to create a Hanna-Barbera-esque cinematic universe while rebooting the Scooby-Doo franchise. In its endearing prologue, young Shaggy meets Scooby and embarks on an adventure with Mystery Inc. on Halloween. But when Blue Falcon and Dynomutt fight the villain Dick Dastardly, the story takes on a superhero motif and becomes more like a generic animated action-comedy than a true Scooby-Doo mystery.

The movie's structure reveals its identity crisis: it attempts to be a superhero team-up, an origin story, a buddy comedy, and a nostalgic universe-starter all at once, but ultimately falls short on all of these fronts.

The first fifteen minutes of Scoob! excel in showcasing the tender friendship between Shaggy and a stray puppy, establishing emotional depth rather than relying on contrived scenarios. The film captures classic Scooby-Doo elements during a Halloween mystery, highlighting each character's contributions while reflecting on the franchise's enduring appeal. The CGI animation, particularly of Scooby and Shaggy, effectively translates the classic 2D aesthetic into a vibrant 3D world. Noteworthy performances include Frank Welker as Scooby, Jason Isaacs as Dick Dastardly, and Ken Jeong bringing comic relief with Dynomutt. Despite narrative chaos, the central theme of Shaggy and Scooby's friendship resonates, especially during key emotional moments that validate their bond. The film balances nostalgia with references to the broader Hanna-Barbera universe, although the climax feels convoluted despite its emotional payoff.

By eschewing its central idea of human dynamics and mystery-solving, Scoob! essentially fails to convey the spirit of the Scooby-Doo brand. Rather, the plot resembles a typical superhero adventure with Dick Dastardly as the overt adversary and a turn towards supernatural themes. Several tales are crammed into a brief amount of screen time, causing narrative chaos and an irrelevant gladiatorial fight scene. Famous characters like Velma, Daphne, and Fred are underdeveloped and lose their distinguishing qualities. With its out-of-date references and lack of timeless appeal, the movie's attempts at modernization come across as forced, leading to an identity crisis that alienates both adults and children. In the end, Scoob! deviates from what viewers anticipate, leading to an unsatisfactory ending that exposes its break with the cherished series.

Although technically sound, Scoob! essentially misinterprets its source material. The animation quality suggests resources that could have resulted in something exceptional, and the opening act shows what could have been—a modernized yet authentic take on the traditional mystery format. Nevertheless, the movie's shift toward superhero spectacle, abandonment of in-depth narrative, and shameless pop culture pandering makes it an unmemorable experience that doesn't appeal to either novices or fans.

Making Scooby-Doo generic is the movie's biggest transgression. This property's distinctive selling feature in a world full of animated superhero movies was its dedication to logical explanations and human adversaries, its promotion of brains above power. For CGI monster fights and universe-building, Scoob! discards this, making it indistinguishable from a plethora of other animated films.

It provides decent entertainment for kids who aren't familiar with the property. For fans of the original series, it's a disappointing lost chance that implies the producers prioritized franchise potential over comprehending the original significance of the property.

Staff:

Directed by: Tony Cervone

Written by: Adam Sztykiel, Jack Donaldson, Derek Elliott, and Matt Lieberman

Story by: Matt Lieberman, Eyal Podell, and Jonathon E. Stewart

Based on: Characters by Hanna-Barbera Productions

Produced by: Pam Coats and Allison Abbate

Starring: Will Forte, Mark Wahlberg, Jason Isaacs, Gina Rodriguez, Zac Efron, Amanda Seyfried, Kiersey Clemons, Ken Jeong, Tracy Morgan, and Frank Welker.

Edited by: Ryan Folsey and Vanara Taing

Music by: Tom Holkenborg

Production companies: Warner Animation Group and Reel FX Animation

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Release date: May 15, 2020

Running time: 94 minutes