Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie
By Tom Cassidy,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Mystery adventure has scary monster, addiction "jokes."
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Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie
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What's the Story?
In SCOOBY-DOO! AND THE BEACH BEASTIE, a trip to a beach resort puts Scooby-Doo and the crew on the scent of a water monster with a habit of stealing jewelry.
Is It Any Good?
It must be tough to keep coming up with ideas for a character whose adventures have run for more than 50 years. However, giving Mystery Gang member Fred an addiction to nets in Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie was a long shot that unfortunately misses the mark. The movie, which sees the characters going off on holiday -- so Fred can (unsuccessfully) go cold turkey -- suffers from this confusing development for Fred, and opens the door to a relentless, often grim, series of "jokes" about addiction. These will go over the heads of most kids and -- bar one admittedly good bit of wordplay -- leave adults shaking their heads.
The love story between Scooby-Doo and his girlfriend is odd, too. Shaggy's jealousy results in him telling Scoob he's sickened by him. Keep it light, maybe? The brightest burning star in Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie is guest star Adam West. He plays an eccentric hotel owner and gives a gleefully unhinged, spirited performance that channels his mayor character from adult animation Family Guy. Taking on the form of a giant sea monster, a three-headed hydra, and a huge shark, the villain's attack scenes are pretty intense. Add to this a convoluted reveal and explanation that's plucked out of nowhere, and this beach holiday ends as unsatisfactorily as it starts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the scares in Scooby-Doo! and the Beach Beastie. Did you find it more scary than other Scooby-Doo adventures? Why, or why not? How much scary stuff can young kids handle?
Why do you think Shaggy felt upset that Scooby-Doo had a new friend? Did he deal with it well? Have you ever felt jealous?
In the movie, Fred found it hard to be around nets. Have you ever had something you enjoyed so much you found it hard to put down or stop doing? What was it and how did you learn to enjoy it in moderation?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: May 5, 2015
- Cast: Matthew Lillard, Frank Welker, Adam West
- Director: Victor Cook
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 22 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: May 16, 2022
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