SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED

"SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED"
(2004) (Freddie Prinze Jr., Matthew Lillard) (PG)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Minor	Mild	Moderate	*Moderate	None

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Moderate	None	Minor

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Mild	Minor	None	Mild	Moderate

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A quartet of crime solvers and their talking dog try to figure out who's responsible for unleashing numerous ghost monsters on their town.

PLOT:

The ghost-busting team of Mystery, Inc. -- Fred (FREDDIE PRINZE JR.), Daphne (SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR), Velma (LINDA CARDELLINI), Shaggy (MATTHEW LILLARD) and Scooby-Doo -- are set to attend the opening ceremonies of the Coolsville Criminology Museum that will feature the costumes worn by those they've debunked over the years. Yet, things go terribly wrong when a Pterodactyl ghost literally crashes the events in front of TV reporter Heather (ALICIA SILVERSTONE) and museum curator Patrick (SETH GREEN) who's sweet on Velma.

In an instant, Mystery, Inc.'s reputation is ruined and the team has to figure out who or what is responsible for what occurred. Their first thought is of the man who first inhabited the pterodactyl costume -- Jonathon Jacobo (TIM BLAKE NELSON) -- but he supposedly perished during a prison break. They then think of his former cellmate, Old Man Jeremiah Wickles (PETER BOYLE), and thus set off to look for clues in his mansion.

As Velma tries to deal with her feelings toward Patrick, and Shaggy and Scooby are determined to become serious detectives, the group's discoveries lead them to an abandoned mine. There, they accidentally activate a monster-making machine that pumps life into the costumes of the ghosts and monsters from the museum. From that point on, the group tries to avoid those monsters while working to figure out and unmask the culprit behind them.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of the first film, the TV series or anyone in the cast, it's a good bet they might.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG: For some scary action, rude humor and language.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: FREDDIE PRINZE JR. plays the egocentric leader of the group who isn't happy with what's happened to them and their reputation.
SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR plays another member of the group who helps solve the case.
MATTHEW LILLARD plays the goofy member of the group who's constantly bumbling up things when not being scared of ghosts. Accordingly, he decides to become a serious detective.
LINDA CARDELLINI plays the brainy member of the group who's uncertain how to respond to Patrick liking her (although she dresses up like a sexual vamp in one scene).
SETH GREEN plays the criminology museum curator who's sweet on Velma but raises the group's suspicions based on his activities.
TIM BLAKE NELSON plays the first inhabitant of the pterodactyl costume who supposedly perished during a prison break.
PETER BOYLE plays his former cellmate who's one of the prime suspects in the eyes of Mystery, Inc.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.; SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR plays another member of the group who helps solve the case.
MATTHEW LILLARD plays the goofy member of the group who's constantly bumbling up things when not being scared of ghosts. Accordingly, he decides to become a serious detective.
LINDA CARDELLINI plays the brainy member of the group who's uncertain how to respond to Patrick liking her (although she dresses up like a sexual vamp in one scene).
SETH GREEN plays the criminology museum curator who's sweet on Velma but raises the group's suspicions based on his activities.
TIM BLAKE NELSON plays the first inhabitant of the pterodactyl costume who supposedly perished during a prison break.
PETER BOYLE plays his former cellmate who's one of the prime suspects in the eyes of Mystery, Inc.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.; MATTHEW LILLARD plays the goofy member of the group who's constantly bumbling up things when not being scared of ghosts. Accordingly, he decides to become a serious detective.
LINDA CARDELLINI plays the brainy member of the group who's uncertain how to respond to Patrick liking her (although she dresses up like a sexual vamp in one scene).
SETH GREEN plays the criminology museum curator who's sweet on Velma but raises the group's suspicions based on his activities.
TIM BLAKE NELSON plays the first inhabitant of the pterodactyl costume who supposedly perished during a prison break.
PETER BOYLE plays his former cellmate who's one of the prime suspects in the eyes of Mystery, Inc.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.; LINDA CARDELLINI plays the brainy member of the group who's uncertain how to respond to Patrick liking her (although she dresses up like a sexual vamp in one scene).
SETH GREEN plays the criminology museum curator who's sweet on Velma but raises the group's suspicions based on his activities.
TIM BLAKE NELSON plays the first inhabitant of the pterodactyl costume who supposedly perished during a prison break.
PETER BOYLE plays his former cellmate who's one of the prime suspects in the eyes of Mystery, Inc.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.; SETH GREEN plays the criminology museum curator who's sweet on Velma but raises the group's suspicions based on his activities.
TIM BLAKE NELSON plays the first inhabitant of the pterodactyl costume who supposedly perished during a prison break.
PETER BOYLE plays his former cellmate who's one of the prime suspects in the eyes of Mystery, Inc.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.; TIM BLAKE NELSON plays the first inhabitant of the pterodactyl costume who supposedly perished during a prison break.
PETER BOYLE plays his former cellmate who's one of the prime suspects in the eyes of Mystery, Inc.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.; PETER BOYLE plays his former cellmate who's one of the prime suspects in the eyes of Mystery, Inc.
ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.; ALICIA SILVERSTONE plays a TV reporter who seems to have it out for Mystery, Inc. and tries to make them look bad in her reporting.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-rated comedy. Violence consists of various monsters chasing after, attacking and/or attempting to harm or kill various characters. While some of that might possibly be quite scary to very young kids, older ones will probably see through the cartoon-like, action atmosphere. Slapstick style hitting, smashing into things and the like is also present.

One of the young ladies appears in a very tight and form-fitting leather outfit (to attract a guy she likes), while some mad science causes a male character to turn into a buxom woman wearing a tight-fitting crop top. Some possible veiled sexual references are made.

Several instances of crude humor are present, as are various bits of potentially imitative behavior, including a number of colorful phrases and very brief profanity. Some bad attitudes are present, while one person smokes and brief drinking occurs.

Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: Shaggy smells his fans before he sees them (a possible drug reference).
Miscellaneous people have drinks at a reception.
Several people drink inside a bar.

BLOOD/GORE: Ghost goo lands in Jacobo's face in the past.
We hear several farting sounds and Velma claims it's the skintight leather outfit she's wearing.
Patrick tells a man that the man will now be known as the "soiled underpants ghost."
A ghost does a copious amount of projectile vomiting onto a man's face.
A diaper sign has wording that describes a baby as a "little party pooper."
We hear a fart sound from Scooby and then see him waving his paw behind him.
A ghost breathes flames at Scooby who fends off the fire with a great deal of farting (as Shaggy holds up his tale).

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: The villains in the film obviously have bad attitudes (but they're played for comedy here).
Heather takes Fred's quotes out of context to make him look bad on the TV news.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: The appearance of some of the monsters/ghosts and material in some of the scenes may be intense, unsettling, suspenseful or downright scary to very young kids (older ones will likely have little or no such response to what's offered).
We see a pterodactyl monster move inside its museum display case.
A pterodactyl picks up the back of the van. Various members of the group then slide out of it and onto the road (on a piece of carpet) while hanging onto the back of the van as it races driver-less down the street.
Velma nearly falls through a catwalk that breaks beneath her, with Patrick grabbing and holding her by just one hand.

GUNS/WEAPONS: None.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "Sniff my butt" (dog subtitles), "Unidentified freaky object," "Screw ups," "Screw it up," "Loser-ific," "Suck-tacular," "So long, suckers," "Loser," "Dork," "Shut up," "Jerk," "Dude," "What a moron," "Yikes," "Right in the round tables" (hit in the testicles), "Twerps," "That dude's wearing his freak hat 24-7," "Zoinks," "Old man nut job," "Love stinks," "Chicks," "Move that worthless piece of tin," "Talking's for wimps," "Screw up" (noun), "Freaking," "Taste the pain," "Skeletal screwballs," "Oh crap," "He's a real gas" and "You worthless mutt."
Scooby accidentally causes a milkshake to splatter onto a person's face.
We see two guys who have tattoos of Daphne on their bare chests.
We see Jacobo trying to fly away from prison with large wings (in a scene from the past).
Shaggy and Scooby do some exaggerated, celebratory dancing.
Daphne slides down a long, winding staircase while standing on it.
Velma kicks the Black Knight ghost in the crotch (and he says he's been hit "right in the round tables").
Shaggy shoots whipped cream from a can into Scooby's and his mouth.
Scooby and then Shaggy belch after drinking an invented liquid.
Shaggy and then Scooby ride garbage can lids down a steep cliff. At the end of their run, they slam into the inside of the group's van.
We briefly see a miscellaneous woman wearing a midriff-revealing top and sporting a pierced navel.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A moderate amount of suspenseful and ominous music (in the mode of what played on the TV cartoon) plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): None.

PROFANITY: At least 1 crap and 1 use of "My God."

SEX/NUDITY: After Velma states that all of their ghosts end up being just shriveled old men inside, Daphne states that dating is the same (a possible sexual reference).
Velma shows up in a red, skintight leather outfit for Patrick's benefit and seductively says, "Who's your momma?"
Heather shows a little cleavage.
After drinking an experimental liquid, Shaggy discovers that his body has changed into that of a buxom woman wearing a tight-fitting crop top.
We see a ghost acting embarrassed after his pants come down to reveal him in his underwear (nothing explicit).
After a cameraman is surprised to find out that a woman is really a man in disguise, he says, "But we cuddled."

SMOKING: A miscellaneous person smokes.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: None.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: Supernatural events and the explanation behind them.
Velma states, "Mystery is my mistress."
That the group saved the day by working together.

VIOLENCE: Patrick trips and falls while approaching Velma (we don't see the impact, played for slapstick).
Lightning bolts break a large museum window, while a pterodactyl breaks a display cause and causes patrons to panic. It then drags and flies Shaggy and Scooby throughout the museum, causing more property damage. That includes when Daphne cuts them free and they land on and break more museum property.
We see Jacobo trying to fly away from prison with large wings (in a scene from the past), but he then falls out of the picture and is reported missing (we don't see any impact, but later see him alive).
Scooby accidentally punches himself.
The group falls down through a trap door and then ends up in a large circular cage that rolls through a mansion basement.
The Black Knight ghost repeatedly hits the shield Fred is carrying, eventually rendering him unconscious. It then repeatedly tries to attack Daphne with its sword (and also swings it at Velma) and causes property damage in the process. Daphne must also fend off a sword that (by itself) repeatedly strikes at her.
Velma kicks the Black Knight ghost in the crotch (and he says he's been hit "right in the round tables").
A punch is blocked and a person is thrown across the bar in a brief and confined barroom brawl.
Patrick pushes a guy backwards while telling him what to do.
Scooby slaps Shaggy twice and then punches him while trying to calm him down.
A ghost shoots small harpoons at Fred.
A large, electrical ghost comes after members of the team and fires dangerous electrical charges at them.
Scooby lands on Shaggy after falling to the ground.
Shaggy and then Scooby ride garbage can lids down a steep cliff. At the end of their run, they slam into the inside of the group's van.
Two skeletons chase after various members of the team (played more for comedy than scares) and occasionally break apart (but then come back together) such as when they crash into a tree.
A tar monster wraps his gooey appendage around a man's head.
In a flashback, we see Scooby crash face first into a tree.
A ghost fires small harpoons that impale the van's back doors. In turn, Fred puts the van into reverse, steps on the gas and smashes into the ghost, sending him flying through the air and then splashing down into a pond.
Riding a motorbike with a lance-like object, Fred jousts with the Black Knight ghost (on horseback with a real lance). They make one pass where the ghost appears to hit Fred on the arm, and then another where both knock each other from their rides.
A large electrical ghost sends Daphne flying through the air from one of its charges.
A miner ghost blows fire at Shaggy and Scooby.
Velma throws a rock that hits two skeletons that are after her.
A ghost tries to strike Fred with his sword.
Daphne and Fred attach jumper cables from an electrical ghost to the Black Knight ghost (the latter clip being attached to his crotch). That causes a great deal of sparking and then a big explosion that takes out both ghosts.
A pterodactyl grabs Patrick and flies off.
A tar monster grabs various members of the team and seems ready to kill them (by suffocation or similar means), but Scooby shoots those tar appendages and then the overall ghost with a fire extinguisher that freezes all of it. He then blasts through the frozen ghost, shattering it.
Fred grabs the back of a man's head to remove his mask, but ends up just yanking his hair when it's revealed he's not wearing a mask.
After Shaggy puts on a diving helmet, Scooby thinks he's a ghost and repeatedly whacks him with something.

Reviewed March 20, 2004 / Posted March 26, 2004

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