Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness

Name: Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness
Item: Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness
Rating: 3
Author: Renee Schonfeld

Movie review by

Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media

Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness Movie Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 7+

(i)

Clever alien monster story is spooky but silly fun.

NR
2015
80 minutes

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age 5+

Based on 1 review

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X of Y

A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Educational Value

Meant to entertain, not educate.

Positive Messages

If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Teamwork and respect are important qualities. It's important not to argue; better to work together against a common threat. A strong heroic character reveals that he has fears like everyone else; it's crucial to learn how to handle fear.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Classic Mystery Inc. roles: Velma -- brainy, insecure; Daphne -- pretty, vain, friendly; Scooby and Shaggy -- unmotivated except by food; Fred -- handsome, a bit dim. Together they call upon their better selves (resourceful, courageous team players) and overcome petty jealousies to achieve a common goal. An enormously large and strong African-American football player defies stereotyping when he admits to being afraid of a lot of things and needing support. Wealthy businessman is prototypical braggart and egomaniac.

Violence & Scariness

Cartoon scares, mostly from what appears to be an alien monster, who menaces the spaceship in which the gang is traveling and later on the moon. It's a black, reptilian wraith-like demon with sharp teeth, a horrible roar, and glowing red eyes. It flies through the air, chases the heroes, damages the spacecraft, and scares the passengers in numerous scenes. No substantial injuries or deaths. Other potentially frightening moments: pounding footsteps, explosions, heroes trapped in space. In a cartoon-within-a-cartoon, the gang imagines comic alien attacks on humans; they battle and defeat the not-so-scary aliens using their unique skills.

Sexy Stuff

Language

Discussion of the wearing of "atomic" diapers and emptying the resulting "payload." Name-calling: "four-eyes," "you're crazy."

Consumerism

The 23rd direct-to-DVD and streaming entry in the Scooby-Doo franchise, which includes toys, products, games, TV shows, and so on.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness is a typical Scooby-Doo franchise release. Familiar quirky members of Scooby's gang solve a simple mystery with an ample supply of comedy antics, parody of existing cultural icons, and cartoon action. Besides the usual explosions, chases, bumps on the head, and narrow escapes, this entry's central villain is a black, reptilian, fanged alien monster who is a menacing presence in many sequences. It may be too scary for very young kids or sensitive kids who aren't comfortable with imaginary jeopardy. Straightforward messages about teamwork, coping with fear, and self-confidence are delivered with humor. Some stereotypical characters (astronauts, an alien resistance fighter, a media tycoon, and a football player) are satirized with good-natured humor.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Adult Written byhelsing March 1, 2015

age 5+

It Was Cute

Warner Brothers does it again, it manages to put out something that is entertaining to watch. I liked this movie, it isn't my favourite put out in the past... Continue reading

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What's the story?

How lucky is the Mystery Inc. gang when they win a trip on a spaceship in SCOOBY-DOO! MOON MONSTER MADNESS? Very lucky, indeed. And what wacky people they meet on trip! Three world-famous astronauts, an unstoppable football player, an alien fighter (a parody of Sigourney Weaver's role in the Alien films), and the journey's sponsor, Sly Baron, a media mogul who'll do just about anything to make history -- for himself. But strange things begin to happen before too long. What appears to be a savage alien seems committed to ending their Space Odyssey. The monster badly damages the ship; their air supply is almost gone, and it's only because Sly Baron has another trick up his sleeve that they'll survive. He reveals that he's built the first space resort on the dark side of moon. With just enough air to make it, the troupe sets down on the moon to repair their ship and resume their space adventure. They're crushed when they discover the alien has stowed aboard with them and proceeds to cause all manner of mayhem to stop them once again. Will they capture the alien? Can their spaceship be repaired? Will Velma and Daphne ever stop arguing? Will Scooby and Shaggy find enough food to sustain their insatiable appetites? And who will fly the spaceship home when it looks as if all is lost?

Is it any good?

Lots of topical humor in this story, and the stereotype-bashing is very clever: When U-Boat, a bear of a football player, sings about being afraid, it's a show-stopper. The constant self-admiration of Sly Baron is topped only by the roughneck astronauts' attitude, who realize that age might soon be an issue for them. The action and scary scenes are limited to the usual explosions, falling debris, knockdowns, and character missteps. Only the space alien's presence could be too much for little kids. It flies around with jagged teeth, its burning red eyes, and long dragon-like tail, wreaking havoc on the spaceship and on the moon. Positive messages combine with a surprise ending to make this an enjoyable entry in the Scooby-Doo franchise.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about the unexpected resolution in this story. Did you have any idea about who the monster was, or what it wanted, before it was revealed? Think back and see if you can pick up any clues the filmmakers might have given viewers. Is it more fun when you can guess the mystery or when you're fooled?
What is a "parody"? Which characters in this adventure parody (or lampoon) famous celebrity types? What do the filmmakers do here to make these parodies surprising?
Is there a lesson to be learned when the giant, strong U-Boat admits to having fears as everyone does and talks about how he deals with those fears by distracting himself with something positive? What works or might work for you?