Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comic '80s tale has cartoon violence and silly scares.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers
What's the Story?
Shaggy, Scooby, and Scrappy find the Southern plantation Shaggy's Uncle Beauregard has left them in disrepair, the perfect spooky setting for SCOOBY-DOO MEETS THE BOO BROTHERS and the ghosts said to haunt the place. That does not deter the threesome from looking for the legendary family jewels said to be hidden somewhere on the property. Scary ghosts seem to thwart this quest at every turn, so they hire the Boo Brothers, a trio of ghost-busting ghosts who do their best to impersonate the Three Stooges. Scrappy is a master at decoding the cryptic clues left by the uncle designed to lead Shaggy to the jewels. Adding to the scare factor is an escaped -- but friendly -- circus ape, a trigger-happy neighbor harboring ill will, a preoccupied sheriff, and various apparitions.
Is It Any Good?
For kids who love simple mysteries that are slightly more sophisticated than Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer, Scooby-Doo Meets the Boo Brothers is a fine choice. And who doesn't love a talking dog whose every word begins with the letter R? Velma is generally seen as the brains in the Scooby-Doo group, and her absence in this movie puts Scrappy firmly in the lead. Anyway, the appeal of Scooby and friends probably resides in children's enjoyment of finding themselves slightly ahead of the characters, identifying threats before the characters can recognize them, and figuring out plot twists before they occur to the heroes. A story without Velma figuring all this out offers plenty such opportunity for young grade-schoolers to do so.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Scooby-Doo such an enduring character. Why do these mysteries continue to be popular? How does this Scooby-Doo movie compare to the many other Scooby-Doo stories?
This movie introduces a boy-crazy girl chasing Shaggy. Do you think romance fits into the story?
Scooby-Doo and friends have been solving supernatural mysteries since 1969. Use the internet to find out more about these successful comic adventurers. How have they changed over the years? What has remained the same?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 16, 1987
- On DVD or streaming : September 19, 2003
- Cast : Casey Kasem , Don Messick , Sorrell Booke
- Directors : Paul Sommer , Carl Urbano
- Inclusion Information : Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Turner Home Entertainment
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : June 24, 2023
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