Fortress of Solitude
FORTRESS
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Comics
  • Anime
  • Win
TRENDING:
  • Movie News
  • DC News
  • Marvel News
  • Batman News
  • Horror News
  • Netflix News
Fortress of Solitude
FORTRESS
  • Movies
  • TV
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Comics
  • Anime

Home > Movies

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! Isn’t Painfully Bad

byRick Austin
3 years ago
in Movies
0
Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo Movie

In recent years, the Scooby-Doo franchise has been incredibly hit-or-miss in terms of both quality, storytelling and entertainment value. While the good news here is that Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! isn’t painfully bad, like the complete misfire that was Scoob!, sadly it’s also not that good either and wastes many of its biggest opportunities.

There’s definitely a juicy premise in Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!: Halloween is a great time to set a Scooby-Doo story in, especially given the contradictory nature of Scooby and Shaggy – a duo who are perpetually scared of monsters, yet love horror stories and candy. There’s a lot of room for a fascinating mystery there, and some interesting character development. The addition of the Scarecrow is a great concept too, since he’s the one Batman villain who can fit in perfectly as a Mystery, Inc. villain too. Plus there are the cameos of Bill Nye… and the legendary Elvira.

Amazingly, all of that potential gets flushed away.

Instead, the most creativity that could be drawn from it is a lazy, overly-long car chase. Seriously. The thing seems to drag on for hours.

YouTube video

It’s Halloween in the town of Crystal Cove, and things are taking a turn for the spookier. While the townsfolk are trick-or-treating and enjoying the annual carnival parade – this year being hosted by the one and only Elvira, Mistress of the Dark – a terrifying mystery is unfolding. Thankfully, Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang are on hand to make quick work of Batman’s fear-spreading foe the Scarecrow.

Except, this Halloween the scares don’t stop when the mystery is solved.

When the town is attacked by living killer pumpkins, Velma is convinced that it’s all impossible, some kind of trick… yet it’s happening. As Mystery Inc. struggle to survive and discover the truth, they’re forced into a bizarre alliance with the Scarecrow, Elvira and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Is this latest mystery going to be their last, and can they overcome the Halloween horrors?

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo

While Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! starts out with the traditional (and rather fun) mini-mystery, it doesn’t take long before the film grinds to a virtual halt and you’d swear the team behind it have never seen an episode of Scooby-Doo before. The few mystery elements which are unveiled at a glacial pace feel scattershot, either obviously signposted or completely random. It makes that aspect of the story pointless, and what’s a Mystery, Inc. story without mystery? Instead, it falls back on action sequences that are slow and sluggish. What’s supposed to be a thrilling chase feels like it’s running on empty and the pumpkins are one of the least menacing threats they’ve ever shown.

It’s also impossible to care about the fate of any of the characters. Despite audience familiarity with them, they’re written so badly as to seem pretty unlikable. Scooby and Shaggy aren’t that funny here, Velma seems oddly mean-spirited, Fred seems pointless, and Daphne is an incomprehensible mess whose personality seems to have been replaced by 1990s Pauley Shore. Like the missing mystery, when viewers don’t care about the characters then there’s little reason to watch it.

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo Film

And by the way, what do the current Scooby-Doo creators have against the classic Mystery Machine? Yes, once again it’s taken out of the running early (a bizarre choice given the huge car chase element to the story) and this time replaced with the blandest Transformer ever. Throw in some of the worst music to appear in a Scooby-Doo movie in a while and some unimaginative directing, and the whole thing becomes a wasted project. Plus… would it hurt to maybe focus a little more on Scooby-Doo helping out in an actual Scooby-Doo film?

How could they get this so wrong? Just give viewers what they want and stop trying to re-invent the wheel!

Happy Halloween Scooby-Doo

All of that said, there are still a few decent moments in Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!.

The voice cast themselves are great, and it’s so good hearing them back again. Fred’s “Dutch” Schaefer routine is one of the most unnecessary and obscure homages ever, but may raise a grin from some, while one particular Daphne quirk is so old-school right that it almost feels wrong. The concept of the story is still intriguing enough to get attention, and Dwight Schultz is an inspired choice to play the Scarecrow. And while Elvira’s appearance here may not be her best and is far too restrained, it’s about damn time she showed up with those meddling kids!

Unfortunately, this isn’t a winner and is unlikely to take the top spot in any Scooby fan’s collection. Feeling out of step in all the wrong places, Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! lurches towards the end credits with all the grace of an uncoordinated zombie.

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! is worth a look for novelty’s sake, but little more.

The Review

Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo!

3 Score

Not enough tricks or treats to make this special.

Review Breakdown

  • Verdict
ShareTweetSendSend
Rick Austin

Rick Austin

Rick Austin is a highly creative and talented author with a passion for all things geeky. Best known for his fantasy-parody novel, "Life Insurance of the Gods" (available in paperback on Lulu.com!), Rick is also a prolific writer for various websites and anthologies. As a fully-functioning geek, Rick brings a unique perspective to his writing, combining his love of pop culture with his talent for storytelling. His work is often characterized by its wit, humor, and irreverence, making it a hit with readers who appreciate a good laugh. In addition to his writing, Rick is also an avid cosplayer and owner of a pair of TARDIS Converse sneakers. His passion for cosplay and pop culture is evident in everything he does, and he is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to express his creativity. Rick's contributions to FortressofSolitude.co.za are always entertaining and insightful, offering readers a fresh perspective on the latest trends in pop culture. Whether he's sharing his thoughts on the newest movies, television shows, or games, Rick's writing is always engaging and thought-provoking, making him a valuable member of the Fortress of Solitude team.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: New Film in the Planet of the Apes Franchise To Release Without Caesar
Movies

Can The Planet of the Apes Survive Without Caesar?

byNeilan Adamsand1 others
November 8, 2023
Michael Keaton's Batman Returns to Face the Fear of Scarecrow
Comics

Michael Keaton’s Batman Returns to Face the Fear of Scarecrow

bySergio Pereira
November 6, 2023
The Live-Action Invincible Movie Needs One Director to Succeed
Movies

The Live-Action Invincible Movie Needs One Director to Succeed

bySergio Pereira
November 6, 2023
 
Fortress of Solitude

© 2023 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

More about Fortress of Solitude

  • About Us
  • Sign Up For Our Newsletter
  • Story Archives
  • Privacy & Site Disclaimer
  • Contact Fortress of Solitude
  • Sneaker Fortress
  • Lifestyle Fortress

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
ENTER OUR COMPETITIONS
  • MOVIES
  • TV
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • COMICS
  • ANIME
  • TOYS
  • WIN
  • SNEAKERS
  • LIFESTYLE

© 2023 Fortress of Solitude, a division of Fortress Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.