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Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" Movie - Stltoday.com Review

Webmaster — 2006-06-28T11:51:59Z

Scooby-Doo 2 : Monsters Unleashed

1:33 PG (for some scary action, rude humor and language)

Genre : Drama

Cast : Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Seth Green

Director : Raja Gosnell

Scooby and the gang lose their cool—and their stellar reputation—when an anonymous masked villain wreaks mayhem on the city of Coolsville with a monster machine that re-creates classic Mystery Inc. foes like : The Pterodactyl Ghost, The Black Knight and The 10,000 Volt Ghost. Under pressure from relentless reporter Heather Jasper-Howe and the terrified citizens of Coolsville, the gang launches an investigation into the mysterious monster outbreak that leaves Shaggy and Scooby questioning their roles in Mystery Inc. The ever-ravenous duo, determined to prove they're great detectives, don a series of far-out disguises in their search for clues. Meanwhile, brainy Velma becomes smitten with a key suspect, Coolsonian Museum curator Patrick Wisely, as macho leader Fred and image-conscious Daphne attempt to determine the identity of the Evil Masked Figure who is unleashing the monsters in an attempt to take over Coolsville.

Ahooo ! "Scooby-Doo" gang gets it right for No. 2

By Joe Williams

The first "Scooby-Doo" was a mangy mutt that only a child could embrace. It lacked energy or a glossy coat, and it wouldn't fetch a bone for the fans of the original cartoon show.

Although the sequel isn't likely to win any trophies, it's a superior breed. It showcases some impressive special effects and resurrects the spirit of '70s animation in a live-action movie.

Resurrected spirits are the villains here, as they are in screenwriter James Gunn's other recent release, "Dawn of the Dead." When a pterodactyl costume in the Coolsville Criminology Museum comes to life and flies off to make mischief, the gang from Mystery Inc. investigates. It's a matter of pride, because the museum chronicles the gang's greatest feats - and because reporter Heather Jasper-Howe (Alicia Silverstone) edits the footage of the monster getaway to make the gang look clueless.

The crestfallen crimefighters retreat to their groovy, space-age clubhouse. Brainy Velma (Linda Cardellini) analyzes some evidence that points to Professor Jacobo (Tim Blake Nelson), a criminal mastermind who presumably died in an escape attempt from an island penitentiary. But Jacobo's old cellmate was Old Man Wickles (Peter Boyle), who owns an old mansion on the outskirts of town. Velma, vainglorious leader Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and kick-butt cutie Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar) infiltrate the creepy compound.

Meanwhile, shame-chastened Shaggy (Matthew Lillard, perfectly zonked) and computer-generated pooch Scooby follow their instincts to a redneck roadhouse where some of Winkles' associates conspire. The movie has fun with the '70s references here, as Scooby and Shaggy dance like disco denizens.

More clues lead them to an abandoned mining company, where the gluttonous Shaggy discovers the potion that can animate lifeless props. When the dopey detectives unleash some ghouls - including a pair of cycloptic skeletons that recall Marvin the Martian by way of "Jason and the Argonauts" - the mellow fellows must make their getaway in a thrilling pseudo-snowboard chase.

Back at the clubhouse, Daphne is coaching Velma in the social graces for her date with Patrick (Seth Green), the curator of the criminology museum and a possible source of clues about Jacobo. The bespectacled braniac blossoms in a red-leather jumpsuit, and the movie detours into a surprisingly effective subplot about self-acceptance and internal rivalries within the gang. But the movie resumes its cartoonishly antic pace for a special-effects finale that might reasonably be compared with "Ghosbusters."

Although it's merely a cinematic snack, "Scooby Doo 2" will please children, parents and Gen-X ironists alike, because it cleverly combines the attributes of its heroes : good looks, brains and a big heart.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" Movie is set for his theater debut in India

Webmaster — 2005-06-18T16:15:21Z

The story of "Scooby-Doo", based on the longest continually running cartoon series in television history, picks up as the clumsy crime-fighting mutt Scooby Doo and his human counterparts, Fred (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Velma (Linda Cardellini) and Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) are reunited to investigate a series of paranormal incidents at the Spooky Island, a hot resort for college students on spring break, owned by Emile Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson). Scooby and his gang are forced to put aside their differences, work as a team, and crack the case.

It seems like only yesterday when Scooby-Doo bounded into television, but this actually happened 32 years ago on September 13, 1969. This lumbering Great Dane has ruled the hearts of millions of animation lovers across the world since then. Though afraid of monsters, ghouls, witches, even his own shadow, Scooby-Doo bumbles his way through mysteries often solving them by fluke. In fact his talents as a detective are second only to his acting capabilities !

“Scooby-Doo" soundly captured first place at the box office on its opening weekend. Scooby's $54.2 million is now the second biggest opening for a June release in box office history. Who would have thought that an animated dog and his four crime-fighting buddies would totally captivate audiences and haul in a load of box office bucks ?

It seems that when the legendary William Hannah and Joseph Barbera developed “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You ?” more than thirty years ago, they were taking a risk - it was the first time that an animation series would incorporate an action-adventure format with an animal in a lead role and “humans” in supporting roles.

Fred Silverman, then head of CBS children's programming, inspired by the Frank Sinatra's song Strangers in the Night where Sinatra improvises the refrain “Scooby-dooby-doo” advised William Hannah and Joseph Barbera to call the dog “Scooby-Doo”. He also asked the duo to make him more fun and turn him into the show's star. Thus Scooby-Doo was born !

Scrappy Doo's middle name is Cornelius. Scooby-Doo has starred in a range of animation series in his 30-year career as a full time cartoon character, since his debut in 1969. Scooby Snacks are made at the Scooby Snack Factory and they taste like a large butterscotch-coloured morsel.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" Movie - High Quality Promotional Photos

Webmaster — 2005-04-20T15:51:13Z

- Graphics / Movie 2004-03 : "Scooby-Doo 2"

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" Movie - Ultra Quality Promotional Photos

Webmaster — 2004-12-17T22:10:08Z

- Graphics / Movie 2004-03 : "Scooby-Doo 2"

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" Movie - High Quality On The Set Photos

Webmaster — 2004-09-28T20:14:16Z

June 4th 2003 - Sarah Michelle Gellar & Freddie Prinze Junior chat between filming scenes for their movie 'Scooby Doo 2'. - Graphics / Movie 2004-03 : "Scooby-Doo 2"

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" Movie - Filmcritic.com Review

Webmaster — 2004-09-08T20:01:36Z

Clearly, the Scooby-Doo franchise is geared toward kids ; after all, it is a cartoon. Yet, as I sat through a Saturday morning screening of Scooby-Doo 2 : Monsters Unleashed, the youngsters at my screening were astonishingly quiet. The abundance of laughter I anticipated was absent ; this surprised me considering the same team behind the amusing first film was responsible for this one. A farting CGI Scooby-Doo does generate laughs in a few strategic spots, but mostly, the filmmaker's failure to hit the target audience cripples this film's ability to be lighthearted and fun.

The initial setup is a simple. Scooby and the Mystery Inc. gang find themselves fighting a series of monsters they have previously conquered that are miraculously brought back to life. The monsters were part of a new exhibit at Coolville's Coolsonian Museum until an anonymous masked villain releases them to wreak havoc on the city. Mystery Inc. to the rescue ? Nope : Their investigation is hampered by a public relations nightmare created by an overzealous reporter Heather Jasper-Howe (Alicia Silverstone) who criticizes the gang on local television. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr.) and Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar) spend most their time trying to protect their image.

This inability to focus on the adventure paves the way for the introduction of other extraneous subplots that further obstruct the film's buoyancy. The museum curator, Patrick (Seth Green), asks the frumpy Velma (Linda Cardellini) on a date, but because she thinks so little of herself, Velma refuses to go. Later, after a Daphne-style makeover, a prettied-up Velma agrees to the date ; she is disappointed, though, when Patrick has an unfavorable reaction to her new style. While Velma deals with her self-esteem issues, Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) and Scooby-Doo deal with similar personal problems after they botch-up the latest investigation. Did anyone call for a shrink ?

It's not just the ridiculous subplots that handicap Monsters Unleashed. The film also suffers from a convoluted storyline that even I could barely follow, let alone a child. We're introduced to so many possible villains, it's impossible to determine who's behind all the madness. There are just too many people who could be villains who later turn out not to be actual villains, but are finally linked to someone else's villainous activity. The mystery is resolved in the final five minutes, when, I guess, the filmmakers decided to make up their minds and stop stringing us along.

This time the mystery is too difficult to fit together, and kids will spend more time trying to make sense of the extra detritus than letting loose at the gang's wild antics.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" UK Premiere Anecdote

Webmaster — 2004-04-05T08:04:00Z

The 26-year-old star also confessed that she had spent the day getting up to mischief at one of London's most famous tourist attractions. "I went to Buckingham Palace and spent the whole afternoon trying to get one of the Queen's guards to move," she revealed. "I pulled every trick I knew. I was pulling funny faces and telling jokes but those guys just don't move an inch. It's really impressive. I think one of them should think about a career in acting."

No doubt the young fans who came to see her will also turn out when Brooklyn's dad David (David Beckham, footballer) makes his big screen debut. Because the glamorous midfielder is currently in talks to appear in a remake of the classic comedy The Pink Panther.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" UK Premiere - Medium Quality Photo

Webmaster — 2004-04-03T22:00:00Z

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" Movie - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk Review

Webmaster — 2004-04-03T21:49:33Z

There's life in the old dog yet

It's hardly mould-breaking, but Scooby Doo 2 is best of breed among the family films this Easter

SCOOBY-DOO 2 : MONSTERS UNLEASHED *** (PG, 92mins)

Freddie Prinze Jr, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini, Matthew Lillard, Seth Green, Tim Blake Nelson, Alicia Silverstone, Peter Boyle, and the voice of Neil Fanning

With the Easter holidays almost upon us, the emphasis this week is most definitely on family-friendly fare. And with Mike Myers' Cat In The Hat proving a bit of an old furball, all the pressure is on Scooby Doo to show who's top dog.

In the event, the sequel to the first live-action version of the classic cartoon fails to unleash anything particularly new.

But it will still provide parents with a perfectly pleasant way to while away an hour and a half with their little darlings during the upcoming break.

As we join proceedings Fred (Prinze Jr), Daphne (Gellar), Velma (Cardellini), Shaggy (Lillard) and Scooby (voiced by Fanning) have been lauded for their crime-fighting adventures by the people of their home town, Coolsville.

As part of a tribute to the Mystery Inc. gang, a major exhibition full of costumes of some of their old foes is being unveiled, but the celebrations threaten to go a bit awry when a masked villain uses a mayhem-making machine to bring their enemies back to life.

Fred and Daphne lead efforts to uncover who is behind the dastardly plan, while Shaggy and Scooby embark on their own investigation, which involves a whole series of not- so-cunning disguises.

Meanwhile, brainy Velma has been sidetracked by her crush on Coolsonian Criminology Museum curator Patrick Wisely (Green), who also happens to be one of the gang's main suspects.

Scooby-Doo 2 : Monsters Unleashed follows the formula laid out in its successful predecessor. Hence we have lovingly re-created monsters, a number of amusing set-pieces and a silly, shaggy dog story at the centre of it all.

There's no doubt however that it's only really at its best when Scooby and Shaggy are on screen.

That said, it still provides reasonably diverting entertainment, especially for the pre- teen audience.

You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks - but the ones Scooby shows here can still just about cut the mustard.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - "Scooby-Doo 2" UK Premiere - Good Quality Photo

Webmaster — 2004-04-03T12:55:12Z