Guess what: the 2002 live action Scooby Doo holds up

I’ll tell you what, kids. The current state of film is dire; in the last couple of weeks, I have watched three new movies. All of them have been mediocre messes. When I started writing little reviews again, my intention wasn’t to bash everything that came my way; indeed, I prefer to find the silver lining and focus on the strengths that movies bring to the table. Alas, it’s been tough to dig up much positive sentiment in this age of reboots and requels.

I needed a breather. I wanted to talk about something enjoyable. Yet as I scrolled through the endless waste of options on the various streaming platforms, it felt a little hopeless. Then, it came onto the screen without warning: Scooby Doo: The Movie. Ah, yes, now that’s class.

Beginning with the gang solving the mystery of the Lunar Ghost, the film immediately establishes its aesthetic: doing its darndest to translate a cartoon into the real world. More often than not, it succeeds. The star studded cast look like their animated counterparts, and were well chosen for their roles. Geared more toward an older audience that had grown up with the many iterations of the gang, the hyperbolic traits of the gang in this rendition are funny, and feel like realistic portrayals of these characters. Meanwhile, sight gags like a wooden bucket labeled simply “gear oil” on a conveyor belt feel right out of Hanna-Barbera.

Visually, the film is a colorful mish-mash of chaos, blending both animated elements and the distinct visage of early 2000s filmmaking. The environments and characters feel kooky and fun, though the CGI work is pure nightmare fuel today. Since this movie came out in 2002 though, this can be forgiven.

Speaking of 2002, the film dates itself very quickly. This isn’t a diss; it’s one of the best features of the film. The cast was, at the time, a smorgasbord of who’s who, with young stars like Linda Cardellini and Matthew Lillard becoming iconic in their roles. Rounding out with a killer college rock soundtrack and cameos from people like Pamela Anderson and the ’00s MTV staple Sugar Ray, Scooby Doo is a time capsule of early 21st Century pop culture.

Probably the best example of a cartoon brought to life, Scooby Doo: The Movie is a ridiculous, silly romp that holds up remarkably well. Don’t let its low Rotten Tomatoes score fool you, this is a gem. If you haven’t watched it since you were a kid, it’s streaming pretty much everywhere. Give it a watch.