Everyone knows the name Scooby-Doo, from the golden age of Hanna-Barbera to those classic direct-to-video animations like Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, and there’s really no surprise the Great Dane has survived as long as he has. For fifty years, from 1969 up until now we’ve gotten television shows, spin-offs, a plethora of special guests, animated movies, and live action movies just to name a few. Obviously, there is something to be said about the ‘solve a mystery in half an hour’ formula, that keeps the audience watching, but that only gets you so far. To say things have changed since we put a man on the moon is an understatement, and as a result, Scooby-Doo has changed too, adapting to new settings that focus on technology (looking at you Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase) and lucky, the aspects that made the original series so lovable are still being incorporated today.
When I first started Scooby-Doo! And the Gourmet Ghost I was skeptical, something about having actual celebrities Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis play themselves and help the gang stop a colonial ghost doesn’t quite feel right. That’s not to say Bobby and Giada didn’t do a good job, their performances were fine, and fit the more wacky nature we’ve all come to expect from a Scooby-Doo movie. I just don’t see a whole lot of children knowing Bobby Flay, let alone chomping at the bit to see him chop onions. Regardless that’s a nitpick, and while there are no Superheros or Globetrotters, I appreciate how these celebrity chefs were incorporated, into the overall story.
Speaking of the story, it’s great. It’s campy, it’s got bad puns, and it reminds me of those classic Scooby-Doo episodes from the 70s. There’s something to be said about being able to recreate plot devices and the style of the original show accurately. The characters sound, act and feel like the originals. The plot is fairly straightforward, aside from a few twists and turns, and figuring out who the Ghost really still has that fun mystery the shows and movies are known for. At times it does get a bit convoluted, the gang has to figure out who the ghost is, if another character is a traitor or not, what will happen to Bobby Flay’s cooking institute, and where a missing cat went. Cutting out a few of these subplots to let others shine would help keep the movie from feeling convoluted and downright strange at some points. That being said it’s not a difficult story to follow and gives enjoyment for both kids and parents, or, longtime fans.
Overall Scooby-Doo and the Gourmet Ghost accurately depicts the campy, fun nature of the original Hanna-Barbera cartoon, while adding new elements and a fantastic art style to keep things fresh. The voice acting is great, the humor exactly what you’d expect and a story that is fun to watch, with a few twists and turns along the way to keep things interesting. While the inclusion of celebrity chefs and a few too many subplots make the overall experience a bit strange and convoluted, the movie is great for kids and enjoyable enough for adults. It’s not exactly like the old show, and maybe this is just nostalgia talking, but I do think this is one of the better Scooby-Doo movies to represent those cartoons of yesteryear. It’s just a shame there were no traditional Scooby Snacks.
- The Bonus features added a bit more content to the DVD and were enjoyable enough.
- Matthew Lillard is always fantastic as Shaggy
