We went Halloween decoration shopping yesterday and we got some really cool stuff! There has been one thing in particular I've been wanting to get for a year or two and I was worried I wouldn't be able to find it. But after Dear did some digging in the display she found it! Dear is the best. Maybe I'll post a picture once we have our place set up! But I digress, let's talk about...
Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
The 348th review
This movie holds a special place in my heart. When I was a young Mr. Pat, my first job was working at a movie theater that has long since been torn down.This movie was the very first film that I ever cleaned up after. Plus, I had just gone through a break up, like, the day before and "Don't Wanna Think About You" by Simple Plan (LOL!) hit different!
As you remember, last year I reviewed the first Scooby and it was way better than it had any right to be. The jokes landed, it felt like Scooby Doo and Matthew Lillard IS Shaggy. Despite such lofty standards of the iconic role, Lillard feels, sounds and looks like Shaggy. It's wonderful casting. I'm also happy to say, he's just as great in this as he was in the first.
In this movie the town of Coolsville made a museum dedicated to the exploits of Mystery Inc. During the big grand opening gala a shadowy figure ruins the party and steals the suits/costumes of old baddies the gang has brought to justice. After that the gang has a crisis of confidence. Shaggy and Scooby overhear their friend's talking down about them, Velma is too shy to deal with her crush on Seth Green, while the have a vengeful reporter messing with them. The reporter, played by Alicia Silverstone, points out Daphne that she doesn't have a purpose in the group while she takes Freddy's quotes of context to make him look bad. I've worked in news for going on 11 years and the evil reporter who plays out of context sound bytes is my favorite bad guy. My favorite line in the movie is when Freddy is refusing to talk to her and says, "You're going to make it look like I think Coolsville sucks!"
Then when they're watching her report later she just has him coming on camera saying, "I think Coolsville sucks!" It's so stupid and funny. I love it.
With that said, it's not as good as the first one, but it's enjoyable. It's so weird to know James Gunn wrote this and the first one, but I like his humor for the most part. Some of the jokes and gags are really funny. I really liked the old man's security system in his mansion and seeing the people who he had ensnared in his trap. I also like the subplot of Shaggy and Scooby trying to find their way after the other three practically call them the weak link. Seeing them try to act as serious detectives, much to the confusion of everyone else, is a lot of fun. Plus when Velma explains to them how they're actually brave is a really sweet moment.
I mentioned the casting earlier, but it bears repeating, the casting is phenomenal. I love all five of them. Freddy Prince as the slightly arrogant airhead is a lot of fun. Velma and Daphne also get their moments to shine and the cast has a really good chemistry together. They all just look like they enjoy being around each other and the way Lillard has embraced the role is a lot of fun to watch.
The movie didn't do as well as the original so plans for a third movie were scrapped. I have mixed feelings about it. It makes me sad because I would have loved to see the gang reunite one last time because they're a lot of fun. But then I read what Gunn had in store for the plot and I wonder if it's for the best that we didn't get a third. Still, it's fun and funny and Lincoln seemed to enjoy it for the most part, except when the monsters would get too scary.
While we were getting near the end a thought occurred to me. From the music, the dialogue and the clothes I turned to Becca and said something to the effect of, "This might be the most early 2000's movie ever."
No sooner had I said that, that Ruben Studdard showed up to sing a song at the end. We laughed!
One last thought, the idea that all Scooby has to do is put on a wig and stand on two feet to fool humans into thinking he's not a dog is one of my favorite things.
