 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Scooby-Doo: The Mystery Begins
- Review Date: September 1, 2009
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Fun live-action prequel is too creepy for the littlest kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that compared to most movies about high school, this entry in the Scooby-Doo oeuvre keeps it pretty tame. The ghouls and ghosts can be scary to the youngest viewers, but the gang has good chemistry, which helps them get through some problems and allows them to solve their first mystery together.
What's the story?
Coolsville High is a drag for a guy like Shaggy (Nick Palatas), who gets tripped on the bus and ostracized for eating his P. B. and Sardines sandwich. But lucky for him, a dog named Scoobert (voiced by Frank Welker) falls off a truck and dives for cover in Shaggy's basement -- thus beginning a beautiful friendship. Trouble ensues, however, when a tussle on the bus finds Shaggy, Fred (Robbie Amell), Velma (Hayley Kiyoko), and Daphne (Kate Melton) stuck in detention together. The unlikely group soon finds that they share a love of mystery, and that indeed a mystery is taking place right under their noses. The gang has to act quickly so that they will not be blamed for the havoc that ghosts are wreaking on the school property. Can they put aside their differences to solve the mystery?
Is it any good?
Fans of Scooby-Doo will not be disappointed by this live-action foray into the origins of the mystery-solving gang. In fact, when Shaggy calls out, "Scooby-Doo, where are you?" his voice rings out through the decades of the show. The cast really seems to get into the groove of their prescribed roles, bringing a little uniqueness to the otherwise bland Fred and Daphne roles, for example. Velma also shows a little vulnerability and Shaggy seems less stoned and more lovably goofy than in previous incarnations of the series. And though Scooby is a computer-generated image, the vocal talents of Frank Welker make him feel like the old Scoobs.
It's also nice to see that members of the gang read books, hence discovering their mutual love of mystery by noticing that they share taste in reading material. Though teenage tensions are acknowledged, the feelings seem pretty appropriate for the characters' ages. And the plot is full of enough twists and turns to keep adult fans interested. Not intended for the youngest viewers, but interesting enough for tweens, this movie could make for fun sleepover fare.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about friendship. Why does Shaggy have trouble making friends? Does he change to make people like him? Or do the people around him change their view of him?
How do the characters in the movie pre-judge and make assumptions about each other? Is this fair? Why do we humans judge one another before getting to know one another? How might this be harmful? How is it helpful?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 10 years old
July 3, 2010
AGE
worst movie yet
it is a wast of time even if you like scooby doo it is the worst it is so stuped but you will want to see it i did and do not buy the DVD it is the worst movie and not one scare at all i hate it dont wach it it sucks
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Teen, 15 years old
September 16, 2009
AGE
Pretty good
I thought it was pretty good. it had a good story line for how the gang got together, how shaggy and scooby became friends, and even how they got the mystery machine. Some ghosts in the show may be scary for some younger viewers but im sure scoob doo lovers will like this movie
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Parent of 13 year old
September 11, 2010
AGE
Works.
Works.
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Adult
September 15, 2009
AGE
Great for anyone over 6 years old!
Love it! The gang is very real and lovable. They obviously get beyond their preconceptions of each other to learn to work together and develop friendships with each other. I love Shaggy's line to Scooby at the beginning stages of the Mystery Gang, "Touchy group, huh pal?" Yet later they are willing to risk their reputations and lives for each other.
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Parent of 3 and 7 year old
September 15, 2009
AGE
Great kid movie. ghost are a little scarry and the fact that Daphne lives in a mansion and has to ride the car that is supposed to be for her "lawn man/gardener" is a little posh.
On the question of age I consider the posted age to be a bit conservative. I am very strict about what my kids watch and the best way to judge age limitations for this movie would be to gague your childs maturity level. My 3 going on 4 year old, does not belive in ghost nor is he scared of T.V. ghost. Both of my children (7 year old daughter 3 year old son) had no issues with this movie. I should also say they never have nightmares from movies anyhow.
I would have turned it off if I deemed it innapropriate but they only things I cringed about wast the kiss scene and the ghost smashing stuff and Fred yelling at the ghost. The "Bears and the Dolphins" was a noticle plug as was the Ben and Jerry's, but the old cartoon version would have thrown those out there too.
Overall it was a fun spooky movie. I rate it for a 6 year old and up or a very mature 4-5 year old.
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AGE
i think scooby doo is ok for any age
Fighting, Shootings, Trashes, and the words are (st**id, bas***d, bee*tch)
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AGE
i think scooby doo is ok for any age
Fighting, Shootings, Trashes, and the words are (st**id, bas***d, bee*tch)
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Teen, 17 years old
October 10, 2009
AGE
The funniest thing I have seen in recent years; great for the whole family!
I always loved "Scooby-Doo" as a kid, and while I still enjoy all of the older stuff, I usually think that the new movies and shows coming out are completely dumb. That is not the case here. This is a hilarious, fun-filled romp for the whole family. (And I do mean "the whole family": I'm seventeen, and I enjoyed it very much.) I usually only enjoy humor that is very obscene, but this movie was funnier than anything I've seen in a long time, and it did it without using any profanity or sexual humor of any kind. The jokes are constant from beginning to end, and they're always funny! I wouldn't recommend this for anyone under five, just because there are some minor scary images (mostly comical, but still). In short, if you enjoy comedies, you have no excuse not to watch this.
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Adult
September 4, 2009
AGE
anybody dont see it though it's going to be bad
i mean really why would you go and ruin a perfectly fine movie by making another one that isnt even the real people. they should have stopped with the first two which in my opinion were pretty good but i promise this wont be good at all
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Teen, 16 years old
October 7, 2010
AGE
This was a cute movie. My younger sisters loved it!
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| Studio: | Warner Home Video |
| Director: | Brian Levant |
| Cast: | Frank Welker, Kate Melton, Robbie Amell |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 82 minutes |
| DVD release date: | September 22, 2009 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
| MPAA explanation: | Not Rated |
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