Whereas Raja Gosnell’s 2002 live-action characteristic “Scooby-Doo” was an unqualified success, grossing $275 million worldwide, the identical cannot be mentioned for “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed,” a hackneyed follow-up that ended its managed desktop field with simply $181 million. Author James Gunn’s distinctive model of humor and coronary heart, a boon to the 2002 unique, was restricted by an extra of characters and storylines. Sequels typically go for extra, extra, extra, although right here it most likely would have been higher to concentrate on what labored finest within the unique – the solid.
This casting elevates “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” excessive sufficient to warrant a watch. Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini and Matthew Lillard, enjoying Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy respectively, are on the prime of their recreation. Fact be advised, they’re among the most inspirational casts of all time, every leaning closely on their characters’ distinct traits and weaknesses. The shift to extra supernatural mayhem does Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed a disservice, however as a relic of its time, it is simple to get pleasure from a big-budget household film that simply tries to have enjoyable, even when that the pleasure is commonly of an incomprehensible frenzy.