Scoob!

Available on streaming services and Sky Cinema in the U.K.

Not for the first time Mystery Inc. are on the big screen to solve another mystery. There’s been plenty of feature length Scooby Doo’s including a couple of live action outings. This time we are back in animated territory as the gang are looking to take Mystery Inc. to the next stage of more challenging “grown-up” mysteries with their new financial backer Simon Cowell. However, when there is a suggestion that Scooby and Shaggy aren’t bringing much to the group, they slope off feeling unwanted. But when they run into an army of small and angry transformers and a superhero team they find themselves in a race to save the world from arch villain Dick Dastardly.

This outing is a little “wacky” including the odd decisions to give Scooby a speaking part far beyond his usual “Raggy” and the use of an animation technique that looks rather cheap and a long way from the quality the modern animation audience is used too.

That said, there are things to enjoy, the voice cast have fun, Gina Rodriguez as Velma and Amanda Seyfreid’s Daphne in particular and Jason Issac’s is in his villainous element as Dick Dastardly. There are also some nice Hanna-Barbera crossovers with cameos from Captain Caveman and Muttley as well as a nicely updated opening credits recreating the classic 60’s titles.

However, it does lack the traditional feel of a Scooby adventure, less mystery more animated superhero battle, but while the animation is underwhelming, it’s colourful and fast moving and they’ll be enough fun to keep a younger audience entertained and plenty of nods and winks to keep an older one watching.

Scoob! Could’ve been an awful lot worse and actually I found it fun, but it does feel a bit straight to TV and is not in the same league as what you’d expect from today’s major animation studios. But for those who remember the original it’s a decent nostalgic trip and I think for the kids fun enough.