Few movies that bring your favorite cartoon characters to life have wowed as much as the two live-action Scooby-Doo movies from the early 2000s have. Though they were met with poor feedback from critics, the live-action Scooby-Doo movies are great. From the casting to the soundtrack to the overall plot, it’s great fun for longtime fans. There have been plenty of re-imagined Scooby-Doo works over the years. From animated movies like Scoob! to Cartoon Network’s live-action interpretation and even the new, highly-anticipated Velma series on HBO Max. However, nothing really measures up to the original live-action works, and there are plenty of good reasons why.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Excellent Casting
Warner Bros.
There are few live-action movies based on well-known animated characters that have delivered a cast as perfect as the Scooby-Doo movies. The only other film that comes to mind that did almost as good of a job is the 1994 live action Flintstones movie starring John Goodman as Fred Flintstone, Elizabeth Perkins as Wilma Flintstone, Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble, and Rosie O’Donnell as his wife Betty.
The live-action Scooby-Doo movies star Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, who perfectly captures the macho, group leader qualities everyone knows the character for. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Daphne and manages to take Daphne’s posh personality and give it more depth, making her more than just a “damsel in distress.” Plus, Gellar and Prinze’s real life relationship transfers on screen, making the chemistry between Fred and Daphne much more believable. Linda Cardellini plays Velma, the brains of the group. Cardellini captures Velma’s nerdy nature, but also gives her more personality and helps to catapult her out of side character territory, giving her more time in the spotlight. And Matthew Lillard plays Shaggy and his portrayal is spot-on. From the voice to the mannerisms, Lillard’s Shaggy is a perfect embodiment of the well-loved character. It was so good, in fact, that Lillard went on to become the new voice of Shaggy in following shows and specials.
The Scooby-Doo franchise and its characters are not only well-known, but well-loved. People know what Shaggy is supposed to sound like, or how Daphne is supposed to act. So when casting a live-action version of such a recognizable show, it’s important to do the original characters justice, because people will immediately notice if you don’t.
Jokes for Kids and Adults
While it could be argued that the Scooby-Doo movies are primarily geared towards children, they’re undeniably fun for all ages, especially for those who grew up watching the animated series. Nostalgia and the fact that these are fun movies to watch is a big part of their appeal for older audiences, but the humor is an even bigger factor.
There are plenty of kid or family-friendly jokes and silly mishaps that the Scooby-Doo franchise is known for, like all the wacky situations Shaggy and Scooby find themselves in. But there are also plenty of jokes for the adults and older kids in the audience, too. Like when the gang is boarding the plane for Spooky Island and Shaggy introduces himself to a girl, and when she tells him her name is Mary Jane, he says “That’s my favorite name.” There are plenty of jokes like this and several others that keep the movie interesting from start to finish. This makes the live-action Scooby-Doo movies that much better because you can enjoy them as a kid and then watch them years later as an adult and catch all the jokes that once went completely over your head.
It’s also a fun juxtaposition to see some of your favorite cartoon characters take on a more grown-up tone. It makes the characters feel more dynamic and well-rounded, as if they’re able to grow over time just like you do as an audience member. If the live-action Scooby-Doo movies lacked the humor they have and took itself too seriously, they likely wouldn’t be as fun to watch today.
Unique and Iconic, Yet True to the Original
Scooby-Doo originally hit screens in 1969 in the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? animated series. Scooby-Doo ranks on several “Best Cartoons of All Time” lists and is arguably one of the most recognized cartoons out there. Since its original premiere, there have been countless Scooby-Doo spin-off series like A Pup Named Scooby Doo, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? and What’s New, Scooby-Doo? With each new iteration of the classic Mystery Inc. gang, there are notable differences, yet they all still manage to stay true to their original roots. The same goes for the live-action movies.
There are clear differences between the live-action movie and any other Scooby-Doo special or series that came before it. In a way, this is obvious because it was created by a new team of people, with their own unique visions for the characters that differ from what has previously been done. It’s also the first live-action entry in the franchise, and that alone makes it unique. The live-action movies also took the characters in a different direction, making them funnier, more modern, and allowing each of them to grow into and develop their personality more. Daphne is no longer just a damsel in distress. Fred learns to get in touch with his feelings. Velma develops a new sense of confidence. Shaggy and Scooby try to redefine their roles in the group and also work to keep the gang together. Each character becomes more dynamic, rather than the flat, static characters from the animated series that most people are familiar with.
However, even with these differences that make the live-action Scooby-Doo movies so unique, they still manage to stay true to the original, keeping fans new and old happy. Although each character develops their personality more, they each still possess the notable characteristics they’ve always had that make them who they are. There are also plenty of callbacks to previous Scooby-Doo media. For example, most of the monsters and mysteries are repeats from the original Scooby-Doo series that are just brought to life via CGI. There are also still plenty of chase scenes, traps and unmaskings, just like a standard Scooby-Doo episode.
Despite negative reviews from critics, the live-action Scooby-Doo movies went on to amass a significant cult following. Both movies are still well-loved to this day and are iconic in their own right. If you’re feeling nostalgic or need a good laugh, you can revisit both movies on streaming platforms like Netflix and HBO Max and be reminded why these live-action takes are so great.
