Scooby-Doo

Out of all the screenings we are showing this summer, I am most excited for this one. The memory of this film feels like a fever dream from my childhood that I conjured up, yet, despite pinching myself, my eyes did not deceive me when reading ‘Scooby-Doo [35mm]’ on this term’s schedule. To give you an idea of the plot, the gang are in their 20s, still working cases, when they decide to part ways. Unbeknownst to each other, they are all called to the aptly named ‘Spooky Island’ to solve (you guessed it) a mystery. Featuring some (fittingly) spooky CGI, Scooby-Doo is a time capsule of Y2K fashion and childhood nostalgia, with perfect vibes to suit the summer air sweetening campus this term. As a young child, I used to watch this movie to send myself to sleep on VHS, and so watching it after all these years on 35mm film will feel like a full circle moment – what a treat!

Holly Beaumont

"Gee Scoob, like why should someone go and see a crazy movie about a crime busting dog and his buddies when, like, films that are made from cartoons are never any good?"

"Right Raggy. Rerember re Rintstones? Rat ros rubbish!"

"This is a tricky one guys. I suggest we split up into teams and think about it. Daphne and I will go this way and think about it in the bedroom, and Shaggy, Scoob and Velma can go over there and get high on Scooby Snacks."

"Jinkies you guys, the solution's so simple. People should go and see our film because it's actually really good!"

And don't take Velma's word for it - despite the reviews of several joyless automatons, Scooby Doo is actually a good film, and darn funny to boot. Plot-wise, there's nothing too brain-busting here. The gang, having broken up after internal strife, are reunited two years later to investigate terrifying goings-on at the aptly named Spooky Island, where normal teenagers are being turned into mindless zombies. How ironic. That's all there is to it really - a collection of set-pieces bring the gang closer to solving the mystery, with time for body-swapping, farting competitions, Buffy-esque martial artistry and a few good old fashioned chase scenes for good measure.

Of course, one of the problems in creating a film of a cartoon is finding the right actors, and luckily Scooby Doo comes up trumps. Scream's Matthew Lillard is pitch-perfect as slacker Shaggy, while Prinze Jr is exactly wooden enough to carry off the role of conceited Fred. Gellar is equally at home in her role, while Rowan Atkinson is superb, but terribly underused, as the proprietor of the amusement park. A lot of criticism has been levelled at the CGI creation that is Scooby Doo, though personally as I got into the film, I stopped spotting the joins and got carried away with the infectious silliness of it all.

Although this is primarily a big budget kids film, there is plenty here for nostalgic students and the uninitiated alike. Its camp, its stupid, but most of all its simply a good laugh, something which many a blockbuster strives for, and often fails miserably.