Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

Director: Raja Gosnell

Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardenelli, Seth Green, Alicia Silverstone, Peter Boyle and Tim Blake Nelson

Release: Nationally on April 1, 2004

Rated: PG

Cartoon capers

The mostly unexpected success of the first Scooby Doo movie pretty much guaranteed a sequel. Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (again with the double-barrelled titles) is an odd little movie, one that marks a departure for the franchise from its opening feature.

Screenwriter James Gunn seems to have been immersing himself in the original cartoon series, because this film bears considerably more resemblance to it than its predecessor. The juvenile bodily function humour is largely – but certainly not entirely – gone, with the script returning to the cartoon’s preposterous roots. This is one of those rare occasions where a completely ridiculous plot is an advantage, as it taps into what made the cartoon so successful.

And ridiculous it is. Essentially, the Mystery Inc gang is on the trail of a madman, known only as “the masked figure”. This evil menace is terrorising Coolsville by stealing the suits worn by villains the gang has defeated, and reincarnating them as living monsters. Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Velma (Linda Cardenelli) are at their wits’ end trying to figure this one out. The situation is made worse by a series of stuff-ups from Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Scooby (voice of Neil Fanning); and the relentless criticism from TV reporter Heather (Alicia Silverstone). Meanwhile, one of the gang’s previous adversaries, Old Man Wickles (Peter Boyle) is acting suspiciously. Even more suspicious, could there be love on the horizon for Velma with museum director Patrick (Seth Green)?

The film proceeds with the same general pattern as the cartoon, with the predictable series of goofy encounters with increasingly difficult monsters before the bad guy is finally unmasked. Gunn and director Raja Gosnell throw in a few pop culture references for the adults, but this is squarely aimed at kids and early teens. Still, there’s plenty of fun here for kids, and adults might even crack a few smiles as the ever more silly antics unfold.

The cast members frankly have little to do but give quizzical looks and run around a lot. Matthew Lillard is still the pick of the bunch as the none-too-quick Shaggy. Freddie Prinze Jr does little to dispel his pretty boy image, and his real life spouse Sarah Michelle Gellar never breaks out of her one-note character. Linda Cardinelli makes Velma the most interesting character developments, and is pleasant enough; while Alicia Silverstone and Seth Green at least have some fun with their roles.

Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed isn’t great filmmaking; but then it doesn’t pretend to be. This is a popcorn movie for a popcorn audience, and there’s nothing wrong with that. For all its cringe-inducing plot twists and leaden performances, this is still oddly engaging stuff, even if it’s only because it provokes nostalgia for the cartoon.

David Edwards

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