Cinema Review (From Penarth Times)

Cinema Review

Scooby-Doo (PG)

ANIMATED dog hero Scooby Doo and friends have just made the long-awaited leap from the small screen to the silver screen.

And they've revved up their mystery machine van, and are setting out to foil some devious plots and trap some bad guys.

Whilst Scooby Doo is computer generated the rest of the gang are live action. Fred is played by Freddie Prince Jnr, Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Velma (Linda Cardellini) and Shaggy (Matthew Lillard).

As with all Scooby Doo cartoon episodes it revolves around solving a baffling whodunnit mystery.

The movie begins with the gang solving a routine case, but the long time friends find resentment has built up over the years when Velma accuses Fred of always taking the credit. So they dissolve Mystery Inc and they all go their separate ways.

That is, until they are asked to re-form by wacky millionaire Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson), who needs them to solve a mystery at his ultra-hip theme park Spooky Island. He feels they are the only ones who can help - so the team re-unite and set out (individually at first) to find out why people are turning into zombies.

Scooby Doo should be taken for what it is, a fun comedy/action-adventure for kids. There are some nods to the adult audience, but most of these scenes will go over small children's heads.

The enjoyment value is here, as the film makers have spent bucket loads of money on the cast, sets, and costumes.

The computer generated Scooby Doo could have been better, but it doesn't detract from the overall film.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and her real life fiance Freddie Prince Jnr give good performances, but it is Matthew Lillard who really steals the show as bumbling Shaggy.