Scooby Doo - Live Action Movie [DVD] [2002]

The latest in a long line of live-actioned-up retro cartoon faves, Scooby-Doo features superb action set-pieces and seamlessly blended live actor/CGI interaction--our eponymous hero is rendered with particular panache. What's more, the special effects are backed by a scarily well-written script and some frighteningly good performances. The Buffy-tastic Sarah Michelle Gellar was born to be Daphne, and Matthew Lillard is show-stealing as the dream-to-play Shaggy. The characters themselves are darkly developed--Fred is now a vain egotist, Velma a last-picked-at-sport geek and Daphne a Clueless-style airhead. Happily, Shaggy and Scooby are still a pair of snack-happy gormless goofs for whom friendship outweighs all else.

Scooby-Doo manages to be great fun for the kids without neglecting the fans of the original (1969!) series. Alongside the fun, frights and frantic action are clever in-jokes and even a few hints at some rather adult goings on--Shaggy getting "toasted" in a smokey hippy-style camper van may explain why he's always so peckish. Throw in a surprise appearance from a love-to-hate familiar face, some Charlie's Angels-style wire work and a storming rap-rock soundtrack and this'll frighten the life out of the competition. If you're thinking of missing it--Scooby-Don't.

On the DVD: Scooby-Doo is beautifully realised in this anamorphic widescreen transfer--the picture is crisp, the colour dazzling and the sound crystal-clear. The menu screen is entertainingly presented with plenty of extras to explore. Highlights include the "Daphne Fight Scene", the Outcast music video and the "making-of" short "Unmasking the Mystery", which features a rare appearance from an ancient Joseph Barbera and reveals the cast and crew to be a personable, fun-loving bunch. The real stand-out here, though, is the "Alternative Scenes" section. The dropped scenes--which include a superb cartoon intro sequence--really add an extra level of understanding to the film, and one suspects that it's only because of today's attention-span challenged audiences that some of the best bits ended up on the cutting-room floor. --Paul Eisinger

Film Maker audio commentary
Cast audio commentary
Featurette "Unmasking the Mystery Behind Scooby Doo"
Never before seen footage
Music video "Land of a Million Drums" by Outkast

Featurettes:
Scary Places - about movie set and design
The Mystery Van - showing inside of Van
Daphne Fight Scene - showing SMG rehearsing fight scene
Hidden feature "Rain on Set" - English subtitles only

DVD-ROM:
One Voice Technology (nagivate through the ROM and complete interactive challenges)
6 ROM "Groovy Fun" Challenges
Scooby Snack Match (classic concentration of matching pairs)
Belch In Tune! (place burps on the musical scale to match the melody)
Nobin' Nabber (Shaggy's carnie game where you position the arm and grab prizes)
DooTown (make it through the obstacle course, duck and jump, and avoid blades and other dangers)
Spooky Smorgasbord (help Scooby build a sandwich from ingredients that are sliding down the counter)
Spooky Groove-A-Doo (match the sequence of plasma dance steps so Fred and Velma aren't discovered)
Downloadables: screensavers, wallpaper, icons, system sounds
Printables: Make your own "Scooby Snacks" box, playing cards, 3-D Mystery Machine model
Web links
Screen Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1