Scooby-Doo Abracadabra-Doo

Reviewer: Alyice Edrich

The Cartoon

Scooby-Doo Abracadabra-Doo: Original Movie

The Plot

Velma’s sister calls upon the gang to help save her Magic school.

Starring

Frank Welker, Matthew Lillard, Mindy Cohn, Grey Delisle, Andres Romano, and more.

Review

Velma receives a call from her mom asking her to check in on her sister, Madelyn. Madelyn’s attending the Whirlen Merlin Magic Academy and a mysterious beast, known as the Gryphon, threatens to close the school down.

Upon arriving at the school, the gang: Velma, Daphne, Fred,, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo meet up with Madelyn—who just so happens to be smitten with Shaggy. They’re given a tour of the magic school, introduced to the staff, attend a special performance, and are instantly thrown into a new mystery.

It’s true Scooby magic and so refreshing to see a new film contain the same heart and soul that started the franchise back in 1969. And it was fun to see Shaggy get a little love attention; especially since it helped him work on his fears and his natural inclination to run the other way.

And there are so many twists and turns that youngsters won’t guess who the real villain is right off the bat—I loved that about this film. Children don’t need the plot handed to them on a silver platter. They like to figure things out themselves, and this film allows them to do just that. It allows them to stretch their imaginations.

I also liked the fact that no matter how real the Banshee or the Gryphon appeared, they were nothing more than mere illusions. After all, that’s what made Scooby-Doo mysteries so entertaining!

In this film, Casey Kasem no longer does the voice over for Shaggy—as he’s finally retired. But don’t worry because Matthew Lillard does a fantastic job of taking over the role. Though you can tell the voice is not the same, it’s very, very close.

Another thing to note is that the characters are drawn similar to the shows of the 70s—with all black eyes and retro clothing. And the animation is stellar with detailed imagery, bright colors, crisp scenes, and various “camera” angles. And get this, the Mystery Machine talks! No, it’s not “Kit” from Knight Rider, but rather a GPS system. It was such a small part in the film, but it was totally unexpected and right on cue! Personally, I think they should keep the talking Mystery Machine in all future episodes.

While the extras are limited, there is a fun bonus. Scooby-Doo and Puppets, Too! teaches children how to create scary puppets using paper bags, hollow tubes, and other craft materials. (This is a perfect for teachers who aren’t afraid to turn the month of October into a spooky adventure.)

Your Task

Teach your children the importance of selecting films based upon personal likes and beliefs—not trends or peer pressure. Watch one of the earlier versions of Scooby-Doo (circa early 70s), then watch one of the later films (circa late 90s), then watch this film. After watching Scooby-Doo Abracadabra-Doo, ask your children to play film critics. Can they tell the differences between the three films? Can they tell you which era was their favorite and why?

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