How “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” Perfects the Art of Live Action Camp

Scooby Doo: Monsters Unleashed is un-ironically one of my favorite movies. Every time Someone brings up James Gunn in conversation I immediately talk about how he wrote the screen play for Scooby Doo 2 and how they should all watch it. People beg and plead for me to stop, they say things like, “that’s not relevant” or, “Sit down we are all trying to watch Guardians of the Galaxy 2! Also this is a movie theatre, do you even have a ticket?” But They can’t stop my passion for this movie, therefore, I made a numbered list of all the reasons this movie stands out and why it deserves your attention and love. 

Story: This is by far my favorite story that involved cartoon characters coming to life. (yes. I like this movie more than “Space Jam” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”) This isn’t the first Scooby-Doo movie to introduce “real monsters”. It was literally the plot of the first live action movie, but the concept fits so much better into “Monsters Unleashed” it’s stupid. The main villain in the story is taking old costumes of previous spooky capers, and bringing them to life and setting them loose in Coolsville, and that’s about it. The concept of reintroducing old cartoon villains by bringing them to life through their iconic costumes in a live action movie is so smart I can’t stand it! The first Scooby-Doo Movie does a good job of breathing life into the surroundings but the events don’t feel like they are suited for the characters. The characters themselves are never really grounded or trusted by the audience by the time the movie is over. In “Monsters Unleashced” the plot surrounding Mystery Inc. instantly puts them in a place of authority and power this allows the audience to become more familiar with the new concepts because they line up with the vocabulary of the cartoon.  

Aesthetic: the movie melts cartoon in real life in a way that really fits. Coolsville has a really great wholesomeness to it that stands out right from the beginning. I think it has to do a lot with the concept of how big everything feels around the characters. The mansions, the museums, and the villains themselves all tower over the gang and glow in the moonlight. The use of practical effects makes everything feel a little more extravagant and cartoony while still living in a grounded reality. The set design is gorgeous and fun. It reminds me of Spy Kids or Labyrinth. This movie makes a lot of bold choices and steps out of the usual “Scooby-Doo” brand. But the set design and way the world is framed so that everything what is odd stands out in a way that feels fresh and not obtrusive. 

Characters: Scooby and Shaggy work so much better in this movie. The two have better banter and the way the two function is so clean. In the first movie they have this falling out, and it always seemed weird because Scooby is Shaggy’s dog. Them getting in a fight is a little contrived, immature and not super exciting to watch. Velma and Daphnie are more fun to watch because they look like they are happier to be there, and they gave Fred this dumbass hair cut and that’s perfect because Fred has always been the worst character in these movies, so now we get to laugh at how fucking dumb he looks. True progress.

The Music: I talk a lot about music on here so instead of me explaining why the music in “Monsters Unleashed” is so good I’m just going to compare the opening titles of the first Scooby-Doo movie and “Monsters Unleashed.

The Scooby-Doo Movie: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGPlh5uThvQ].

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TndvU10kwHI]

These are the themes that open up the movie and set the tone for the next events to take place. You tell me which one feels more on brand with a live action Scooby doo movie. 

But in all seriousness David Newman does an excellent job mixing camp and drama with this soundtrack. It takes what exists in the source material and uses music emphasizes jokes like in the cartoon, but also carries serious drama and weight behind it when necessary. The “Monsters Unleashed” score is so good ill listen to it when I’m reading or writing scripts because it has so much personality. I love it. 

This movie has so much charm I want to put it on my wrist and wear it in the second grade. This movie feels like the Tim Burton batman movies. A departure from the initial idea but a clear and notable vision for what it is. A lot of people lob both of the live action Scooby-Doo films together saying they are “so bad their good”. But I’m not here to say that. I’m saying that the first one is bad, and the second one is my absolute favorite. 

The Scooby-Doo cartoon today is this mess of themes and genres. He’s wrestled and met batman and fought real ghosts and now Velma is kissing Shaggy, not to mention all the spinoffs and prequels? None of these things alone are bad, but I think “Monsters Unleashed” was the first bold departure to still feel completely warranted under its brand. I think a lot of pieces of media should look at “Monsters Unleashed” as a guideline to keeping things honest and different. 

Looking at you “Titans”.

Obviously this movie isn’t without it’s faults. There is a musical section of the movie with Ruban Studdard that I literally skip every time. It doesn’t progress the story and its only there because he won American Idol the year before. Crazy right? Remember American idol? Anyway. This movie clearly goes in the opposite direction of the first. It is there to have fun with the source material. I think one of my favorite lines is when shaggy is being chased by the Pterodactyl Ghost, He shouts, “This is tied for the most terrifying day of my life!”. Fred asks, “Tied with what?” and Shaggy shouts with his face red with stress, “Every other FREAKING DAY OF MY LIFE!!”. That line is so fun and honest it’s the perfect representation of the tone and feel of Monsters Unleashed. If you haven’t seen this film, go check it out, if you have seen it, good job, now go watch it again. 

Wow thanks for reading this! You are really incredible for sticking in this long and I appreciate it. Let me know what you think below and lets chat about it. 

Have an amazing day.