Should you’ve been getting the munchies for a brand new Scooby-Doo caper ‘Scoob’ — one which isn’t jacked up on grownup weed references and such — — Warner Bros. is doling out one tasty snack for your loved ones.
Initially set for a Might 15 theatrical launch however now forged into the streaming ocean as a result of coronavirus pandemic, “Scoob!” is a goofy and shiny shock — an imaginative reboot that respects its shaggy canine TV roots however is sensible sufficient so as to add dashes, not shovelfuls, of wry pop-culture and film references.
Whereas DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls: World Tour” generated probably the most superior buzz — heralded as the primary big-budget movie to desert its theatrical launch and embrace the streaming route within the COVID-19 period — “Scoob!” is a greater movie, with its eye-candy animation, sly script and, better of all, a hilarious vocal efficiency from Lafayette native Will Forte because the boy-man Shaggy. Forte even rivals Matthew Lillard’s scene-stealing take of canine’s finest pal within the 2002 dwell motion “Scooby-Doo” dud. Forte perfects Shaggy’s crackly puberty voice.
“Scoob!” reunites us with the Thriller Machine crew, together with the brave however quite dim Fred (Zac Efron), the charming however not very street-smart Daphne (Amanda Seyfried) and the brainy outsider Velma (Gina Rodriguez). Right here, they half methods with Shaggy and Scooby (Frank Welker) because of a harsh enterprise session with Simon Cowell. Sure, that Simon (voiced by the actual Simon Cowell, no much less); the coy animated group even give him an unbuttoned white shirt and chest hair.
Dejected, Shaggy and Scooby wind up at a bowling alley the place they deal with evil minions of bowling balls (it’s important to see it to grasp it) commanded below the mustachioed Dick Dastardly (Jason Isaacs, having a heyday). The McGuffin here’s a assortment of statues of the legendary three-headed canine Cerberus. Dastardly is out to collect these noggins for a no-good purpose. Making an attempt to muzzle these plans and assist the Thriller Machine crew are the useless, Instagramming superhero Blue Falcon (Mark Wahlberg), his robotic canine Dynomutt (Ken Jeong) and his brainy sidekick Dee Dee Skyes (Kiersey Clemons).
OK, apparently a doobie or six may need been shared whereas the 4 screenwriters — Matt Lieberman, Adam Sztykiel, Jack Donaldson and Derek Elliott — concocted this plot, however there are intelligent strains to spare and director Tony Cervone understands find out how to stability the irreverence and the reverence. Which means he accommodates “Scooby-Doo” purists by delivering all of the issues they count on — together with the shock “dangerous man” on the finish — however with tongue firmly in cheek.
This knack for toying with Scooby-Doo followers whereas giving them precisely what they need, whereas staying affectionately true to the unique characters, is what makes “Scoob!” a minimize above the “Scooby!” films that got here earlier than it. You would say it’s the decide of the litter.
