SCOOB! (2020) is the perfect blend of the decades. Set in modern time, Scooby Doo and the gang use their iPhones and internet search engines to solve the case of Dick Dastardly and the Peruvian canine skull, while 70s cartoon classics, like Muttley, Captain Cave Man, and Jabberjaw, make their cameo appearance.
Unlike any other Scooby Doo series or film, SCOOB! (2020) unveils that young Shaggy adopted the stray Scooby, and the following Halloween night, they meet Fred, Daphne, and Velma, forming Mystery Incorporated. As the years go by and the kids grow up, their Mystery Inc. business is failing. They need fiercer monsters and creepier cases to solve, so when Simon Cowell offers to invest in their business, he makes one stipulation: Shaggy and Scooby must go.
By accident, Shaggy and Scooby bump into some robot minions of the evil villain Dick Dastardly, but the guys are saved by the iconic Blue Falcon (or actually, his disappointing son, Bryan). With the help of Bryan’s heroic team and Mystery Inc., Scooby discovers that Dick Dastardly needs his paw print to unlock the underworld, where Alexander the Great kept all of his treasure. As the only descendant of Alexander the Great’s prized canine, Scooby is the last dog left with the power to unlock the secret door.
Torn between the Blue Falcon Team and Mystery Inc., Scooby learns that he must forgive old friends and welcome new friends if they want to take Dick Dastardly down.
This coming of age spinoff classic relies heavily on the theme of friendship. While Simon Cowell promised Shaggy and Scooby that “Friendship won’t save the day,” Mystery Inc. proves him wrong. They learn to accept their differences as strengths, and together, they form the perfect mystery-solving team.
Parents should be aware of several heavy undertones regarding language. One scene, meant for comedic purposes, features Scooby trying to correctly pronounce Dick Dastardly’s name, but we all know that Scooby can’t pronounce things correctly, so he continues to call Dick “Rick.” Out of frustration, Dick Dastardly emphasizes the enunciation of his name, screaming, “Dick! Dick! Dick! Dick!” In addition, Bryan invites Shaggy to read his Dad’s book, Quit Falcon Around, and Bryan calls a falcon bomb the “f-bomb.” Velma refers to the underworld as a place where “all hell breaks loose,” and milder language like “butt” and “crap” is sprinkled throughout the film.
A few sexual elements to take note of include a flirty, sultry cop that Fred refers to as “hot.” Also, two homosexual females wearing heart-shaped shirts are quickly pictured at the beginning of the film.
The typical Scooby Doo scenery of goblins, ghosts, and creepy clowns are spread throughout the film, too.
There’s something for everyone to enjoy in SCOOB! (2020). Younger audience will appreciate the iPhones and Netflix funnies that give Mystery Inc. a modern twist, while an older audience will appreciate the 70s cartoon characters that sneak their way into the plot. However, we believe that the language, sexual innuendos, and ghosts aren’t meant for very young children.
We award this film Dove-approval for Ages 12+.
The Dove Take:
SCOOB! (2020) blends 70s cartoon cameos and modern technology gadgets to create a fun, updated Mystery Inc., but a few sexual references and language undertones aren’t suited for a young audience.
