The most famous TV dog of all time, Scooby-Doo, and the gang of Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma, return to the movies once more, in Warner Bros’ newest big release, “Scoob!” Hop in the mystery machine with the gang and head out on a brand new cinematic adventure, the first feature-length animated Scooby-Doo movie ever! Below we share our thoughts about this newest film in this Scoob review.
The mystery gang is in trouble — a sponsor is interested in giving a much needed monetary investment but insists on ditching Shaggy (Will Forte) and Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker) for being useless to the group. They leave in a huff, only to be picked up by their favorite superheroes, Blue Falcon (Mark Wahlberg), Dynomutt (Ken Jeong), and Dee Dee (Kiersey Clemmons). There they discover that Scoob is wanted by the villainous Dick Dastardly (Jason Isaacs), for a mysterious ancient ritual that could bring about the apocalypse!
Originally slated for a cinematic release, “Scoob!” is now an exclusive cinema-on-demand feature available through several services, including Amazon Prime, Vudu, Google Play, Apple TV, and Movies Anywhere.
The film is directed by Tony Cervone, a veteran of Warner Bros. Animation and the Scooby-Doo franchise. He’s previously served as the animation director for the hit “Space Jam,” and two direct to video Scooby-Doo films, “Abracadabra-Doo” and “Rock & Roll Mystery.” Therefore, he has a solid eye for visual comedy and keeps the film’s energy high. Plus, he’s clearly a fan of the original show and is sure to put in several sly references true fans will be happy to spot.
Enjoying this Scoob review? Check out more film reviews!
The whole gang is getting a big name cast makeover, with SNL veteran Will Forte effortlessly slipping into the role of the scaredy-cat slacker Shaggy, Zac Efron well suited to the airheaded Fred, Amanda Seyfried is hilarious as Daphne, and Gina Rodriguez is stupendous as the brainy Velma. Even veteran of the original show, Frank Welker, comes back to voice Scooby.
But the real attraction to “Scoob!” is its stellar animation by the Warner Animation Group. They’ve already produced such hit projects as “The LEGO Movie,” “Storks,” “The LEGO Batman Movie,” and “Smallfoot,” all featuring dazzling animation.
It’s no surprise that they’ve turned out yet another solid feature, with great timing in the visual gags. It’s apparent that a great deal of care has gone into the character design, imitating the original animated versions but also giving them a unique look to this new iteration.
Fun for the kids and adults in the family, “Scoob!” has something for everyone. Made by people who have a clear love of the franchise and character, it’s an exciting adventure and a laugh riot all in one.