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# Watch footing near ‘Scooby’ doo-doo
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/watch-footing-near-scooby-doo-doo/
- Published: 2004-03-26T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T04:04:16.000Z
- Author: Dan Dunn
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

If you were to mimic the modus operan-di of the gang from Mystery Inc. and pull the mask off this sequel, you’d discover that with the exception of a few new wrinkles, it looks a lot like the first film. This time out, director Raja Gosnell and scribe James Gunn — the same team that brought us “Scooby Doo” in ’02 — rely even more heavily on CGI to try and dazzle the kids who are the franchise’s primary consumers. And the eye-popping effects are impressive, most notably in a wild shape-changing scene featuring Shaggy and Scooby. However, the filmmakers aren’t very successful in their efforts to hook the adults who grew up watching “Scooby Doo” on pre-remote-controlled TV. Rather than run with the daffy charm that was the essence of the series and that served the first movie so well, they instead insert awkward bits that find the young super-sleuths immersed in Dr. Phil-like psychoanalysis. Does anyone over 8 years old give a hoot about Velma’s self-esteem issues? Of course not. All we want are more disguised dope references and those tasty little moments that suggest everyone in Mystery Inc. — save Daphne — is gay.

Here’s what’s happening in Coolsville: A masked villain has created a machine that is cranking out reproduced ghosts from the series’ greatest hits collection: the Pterodactyl, the Black Knight and Captain Cutler, among others. Mystery Inc. must stop these monsters from doing scary, monsterly things. So they don disguises and investigate, like, spooky spots. The original cast returns — Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Matthew Lillard and the visual effect that is Scooby — and, as before, Lillard and the virtual-pooch absolutely steal the show. Also pitching in are Alicia Silverstone, Peter Boyle, Tim Blake Nelson and Seth Green as possible perps. (Rated PG for some scary action, rude humor and language. Running time: 91 minutes)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 26, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/032604.pdf?ref=smdp.com)