Scoob, the much hyped film, commencing the Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe (or so we are calling it) by Warner Bros. is finally here! Of course it’s no theatrical release for those splendid visuals due to the Covid-19 crisis, but thankfully (or maybe not) we have a web-release. And this may seem to be huge disappointment but, in spite of the marvelous technical aspects, the film has received negative reviews from the critics. I had been excited for the film since the day it was announced, back in June 2014 when it was initially supposed to be a live-action reboot of the Scooby-Doo films. Sadly, watching Scoob was an experience full of yawns, even for a die-hard fan like me. But I promise you, that there is a good news at the end of the post!
1. The Change in Genre from Mystery to Adventure
Scooby Doo has always been known as mystery-horror whodunnit for kids and changing it to a purely treasure-hunt adventure film is the stupidest mistake one can ever make. We were promised a cool origin story and unfortunately, the origin of Mystery Inc. is treated as a neglible detail in the flick. Also, with Shaggy and Scooby abducted, the rest of the gang is on their own, killing the fun.
2. Fred isn’t the Classic Fred!
What comes to your mind when you think about the characteristics possessed by Fred? The one who leads, the one who drives and the one who is the alpha of the pack! Apologies on spilling the pudding (no, don’t Google it… it’s a phrase I made up just now) but he isn’t that Fred in Scoob! He has been rendered into a mere useless guy who is constantly picked upon by Velma and Daphne! Once again, what makes them think it’s the right choice to mess with classic characters?
3. Simon Cowell’s Cameo Seems Off
What made them think Simon Cowell would be the right guy for the cameo as a celebrity-investor? The way he treats Shaggy and Scooby makes you detest him more. If they wanted someone to fund Mystery Inc. as a startup, any judge from Shark-Tank would have sufficed, but not a judge from a talent show with poor ratings.
4. They Introduced a Superhero as a Significant Character
Blue Falcon and his robo-canine (Dynomutt) may be other characters by Hannah-Barbera but, Scoob isn’t supposed to be a superhero movie with spaceships, period.
5. The Not-So-Powerful Antagonist
Dick Dastardly, the antagonist, is another lesser known character by Hanna-Barbera, and he is a Dick (pun intended). His motive: to rescue his own dog who he forced into Alexander’s the Great’s treasure locker via a portal, but unfortunately couldn’t make it back; How he could survive in a locker room for so long is never explained.
6. Scooby’s Ancestral History in the Film Ruins Everything for Classic Lovers
Why can’t Scooby be a normal crime-sloving great-dane instead of being the successor of Alexander the Great’s dog and a key to his locker?
7. Mystery Machine Doesn’t Get the Respect it Deserves
Mystery Machine is the soul of their gang, and technically their sixth member. For classic lovers, it isn’t a mere van. Not gonna post spoilers for those who want to watch it but let’s just say that it’s the first film of the franchise but Mystery Machine doesn’t get the respect it deserves!
8. The Jokes Just Don’t Work
Why is a kids film joking about Tinder? Anyone with a good sense of humor and a sane mind will find it hard to laugh at the jokes while watching the film. Sure, some pop-culture references and jokes are fun, but not laughable.
9. Cameos of Lesser Known Hanna-Barbera Characters (at least globally-less-known)
No one would be excited to see Blue Falcon, Dynomutt, Captain Caveman and other guys in film, NO ONE! To be as honest as possible, I didn’t even know these were Hanna-Barbera characters while watching the film. Don’t get me wrong but these guys created multiple popular characters like: Tom and Jerry, The Flintstones, The Jetsons and the list goes on; so, why weren’t they in SCOOB? If Tom and Jerry is the next movie by Warner Bros. , why weren’t they the part of the franchise? Although it’s an animated live-action film, they could have created a couple of different dimensions: the first where cartoons stay, and the second where humans stay, making the universe similar to Cool World. It would have been fun to see duo with Mystery Inc. instead of the lesser known folks, especially since the cat-and-mouse pair is known globally! Tom and Jerry was supposed to release this year but has now been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
10. SCOOB Sets Up A Poor Starting Point for The Hanna-Barbera Cinematic Universe
Cool CGI? Check! Cute character designs? Check! A mind-blowing storyline for a popular detective franchise? HOL’ UP, DON’T CHECK THAT BOX! The Mystery Inc. seemed to be the best bet for kickstarting the franchise when it was first announced. Six years of work sadly turns out to be a wasted opportunity. Let’s hope that Tom and Jerry and other films in the universe aren’t ruined like Scoob!
And Now, the GOOD NEWS:
Scoob definitely was a let-down but don’t feel disheartened. We are going to get a darker, live-action adaptation of Scooby-Doo soon! The trailer is already out and it looks great. The series, named Mystery Incorporated is a fan project, that has been approved by Warner Bros. The best part: it looks like a legit high budget production! Have a look at the trailer below:
The rant comes to an end here but check out some cool movies that you can watch, in place of Scoob! xP
