Review of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) by Rachel H — 30 Apr 2011

Both of these Scooby-Doo films have major nostalgic value for me, because I liked them when I was a child. That's why I'm not being particularly hard on them, even though I realize they are very mediocre films. Scooby-Doo 2 isn't really a bad movie, and sometimes its better than the first one. In fact, I would actually say its better than the first one. That's right. I like this movie, and I have no shame in liking it. It's no masterpiece that's for sure, but it's certainly not a bad movie and it accomplishes the job it's set out to do. That job is to please kids, and it certainly does that.

Scooby Doo 2 takes place in Coolsville, and starts at the opening of the new criminology museum, with a special wing dedicated to the exploits and successes of Mystery Inc. Several monsters come to life and attack the museum, and the gang find themselves under scrutiny lead by journalist Heather Jasper Howe (Alicia Silverstone). Then, more monsters start attacking the city, and its up to the gang to figure out the source and stop it before Coolsville becomes Ghoulsville (line from the movie). There's also personal drama, like Shaggy and Scooby thinking that they have no real purpose in the group and Velma having romantic issues with a handsome curator played by Seth Green.

The film focuses much more on the mystery and on having as many monsters as possible in the movie rather than focusing on the individual characters and nuances of the group. There is some character development, but not much, and that's one of the problems of the movie. I like each of the characters, but I realize that they aren't very well-developed. The film is also filled with lame jokes and that is definitely a problem for an older viewing audience. However, it will make kids laugh, and that's its target demographic. Plus, like I said, these movies have huge nostalgic value for me, and even watching it after all these years is still an enjoyable watching experience.

The acting has actually picked up from the first movie with improved performances from Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar, as well as spot-on performances from Linda Cardellini as Velma and Matthew Lillard as Shaggy. Seth Green is actually a favourite actor of mine and he was pretty good in this movie. I don't really like Alicia Silverstone though (Clueless is overrated) and she was my least favourite performance in the movie. The gang had good rapport together, and in general, the acting has improved all around.

The special effects have also improved, and what kid wouldn't like a movie full of creative monsters? The special effects in the first film were questionable, and the ones in these are not spectacular. However, they most certainly are improved from the first film. In fact, if I were to describe Scooby-Doo 2 in one word, it would be improved. Like Attack of the Clones, it is a decent sequel to a mediocre first film. The acting has improved, the story has improved, the special effects were improved, and it's just an overall improvement from the first. I would recommend it (meaning the series) to children (or kids at heart), parents who want to distract their children, or people who have nothing better to do. But if you're not interested, watch the cartoons instead, you'll get much more entertainment out of it.