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Parents' Guide to

Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Mystery contains familiar elements, some scary moments.

Movie NR 2005 75 minutes
Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Matt The Pirate
Matt The Pirate Adult
August 31, 2018
age 6+

VIVA SCOOBY-DOO

I'll admit this is not my favorite Scooby movie. That said, the idea of having the gang do a mystery in Mexico was a good one and led to many cool moments. It's fun but the story is just so-so. Maybe I need to check it out a second time but I still don't think it will be one of my true faves.
tvconnoisseur
tvconnoisseur Adult
May 29, 2015
age 5+

A Classic Free Weekend Treat

I’d highly recommend this for any Mexican culture education thingy for kids.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Scooby, Shaggy (Casey Kasem), and the gang take a trip in the Mystery Machine south of the border to Veracruz, where they learn that El Chupacabra is terrorizing the town and scaring away tourists from their friend's hotel. As they learn of El Chupacabra and of the greedy crooks who seek to make money off the town, Fred (Frank Welker) and Velma begin to suspect foul play. Their adventures lead them throughout Veracruz, into bizarre museums and ancient temples, where they uncover clues and start piecing the mystery together. As "meddling kids," they must work together to find who is behind these "monstrous" appearances, and why.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (1 ):

There really isn't anything new in SCOOBY DOO AND THE MONSTER OF MEXICO. For parents who grew up watching the cartoon in the '70s and '80s, all the familiar moments are there: Scooby says "Zoinks!," Shaggy has the munchies, the monster is really a bad guy wearing a costume, and the kids are "meddling." That being said, for those who enjoy this familiar formula, and enjoy playing along and trying to solve the mystery, there's much to like in this installment.

However, this film does have the feel of being padded, like it could have easily been 30 minutes instead of 75. Furthermore, the exploration into Mexican culture feels at times as if it borders dangerously close to stereotyping. Still, for fans of the Mystery Machine and her passengers, this comfortable and enjoyably familiar story will entertain.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Mexican culture. Do you think this cartoon accurately depicted Mexican culture? Were there any stereotypes?

  • How is this Scooby-Doo movie similar to other installments of Scooby-Doo? How is it different?

  • What is the appeal of Scooby-Doo? Why do you think it has remained popular for so many years?

Movie Details

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