Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Slapstick soccer mystery has a mildly scary monster.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Scooby-Doo! Ghastly Goals
What's the Story?
In SCOOBY-DOO! GHASTLY GOALS, Scoob (voiced by Frank Welker) and the gang are on holiday in Rio, Brazil, when they encounter a mythological monster at a soccer parade. Determined to unmask the menace, they follow the trail to a laboratory.
Is It Any Good?
Packing a lot into its short runtime, this animated adventure is a neat package that makes the most of its Rio setting. Scooby-Doo! Ghastly Goals has a great time celebrating Brazilian culture, with Scooby-Doo and Shaggy (voiced by Matthew Lillard) being particularly funny in their pursuit of food. Until it's unmasked in the expected Scooby-Doo fashion, the monster of this movie is an Eshu, a Latin-American trickster god. With sharp teeth and an impulse to pursue Scooby and Shaggy, the monster is just the right amount of scary for a young kids' movie. Any damage is delivered with effectively funny slapstick and there are some amusing lines, too.
The unmasking of the villain at the end is surprisingly moving too -- a tale of family expectations and unfulfilled childhood dreams. Chuck in Scooby-Doo scoring the winning goal for Brazil against the United States in an international soccer match and you get a mini adventure densely packed with all kinds of entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Scoob and the gang demonstrated courage, perseverance, and teamwork in Scooby-Doo! Ghastly Goals. Why are these such good character strengths to have? Can you think of any examples in real life when you've shown these traits?
Did you find any parts of the movie scary? Which scenes in particular? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
How familiar are you with Brazilian culture? Did you discover anything new from the film? Why is it important to learn about different cultures?
How did this film compare to other Scooby-Doo adventures you've seen? What did you like/dislike?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : May 13, 2014
- Cast : Matthew Lillard , Frank Welker , Danny Trejo
- Director : Victor Cook
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Home Video
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Animals , Fantasy
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 22 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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