Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery, 2015.
Directed by Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone.
Featuring the voice talents of Frank Welker, Matthew Lillard, Grey Griffin, Mundy Cohn, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer.
SYNOPSIS:
Get ready to Rock! Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang team up with the one and only KISS in this all-new, out-of-this-world adventure!
Potentially the most prolific animated crime fighting team in history, the Mystery Inc. Gang are back to take on a new jitter inducing mystery. But this time they are not on their own. Having already dealt with a WrestleMania mystery involving a series of wrestlers including John Cena, the gang are back, sans Scrappy, to collaborate with legendary rock band Kiss.
This rock and roll mystery takes in the spooktacular Kiss based theme park, Kiss World. The gang utilise their accumulated skills to investigate a series of hauntings. As the gang begin work they receive some unexpected help from the Kiss band members and together they discover the Crimson Witch has returned to summon The Destroyer from the alternate dimension of Kissteria. Together they plan to destroy the earth. Can the meddling kids, and meddling rock stars, get in the way of their plans and save the day?
The refreshing thing about this film is that it sticks to the conventions that have worked for the cartoon for decades. There is no modernisation and no attempts to make the cartoon into something it is not for the modern day audience. Even the use of Kiss as sidekicks harks back to the time that Scooby-Doo originated and was at its height of popularity. Unlike other cartoons and children’s programmes of the time there is no CGI or updated animation. The film stays true to its Scooby Roots.
The continuity is upheld by the voice actors. Frank Welker returns as the voice of Fred and the titular hound Scooby having begun the role in 1970. The voice of Velma is reprised by Mindy Cohn who joined the Scooby gang in 2004 for Scooby-Doo and Loch Ness and has remained since. Daphne is yet again voiced by Grey Griffin who began the role in Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase in 2001 and the hapless yet loveable Shaggy is voiced by Matthew Lillard who has worked on every film and a TV series since the live action films. When mixed with the animation stylings and typical plot this makes the film nostalgic for adult viewers, transporting them back to childhood.
Due to this old school style the film is as appealing to adults as it is to children. There are the usual connotations that make the film relatable to adults (a hippy with the constant munchies? Uh huh) and there are a number of nods to Kiss fans within the film that adult audiences will appreciate. The soundtrack is the most obvious, the film is full of classic Kiss music, but aside from that fans should keep an eye out for references to Sailor Moon, former Kiss band members and note the relevance of the Black Diamond, amongst other nods to Kisstory. There are also cameo appearances by Jay and Silent Bob, which will be just as appealing to adult viewers.
This said, the film is still just as appealing to children. Despite the adult connotations throughout the cartoon there remains a childish innocence. The fast pace and fun animation will keep children amused. There is the stereotypical convention that is always seen within these films that focuses on good over-coming bad. The cheesy comedy ensures there are plenty of laughs as well as a fair share of tension for children.
Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery offers harmless fun for all the family. It has nostalgia and old school references for adult viewers and fast paced cartoon excitement for children. The latest in a long line of Scooby-Doo films, and a welcome one at that.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Stu Greenfield
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=C_zu6XuI_g4
Originally published October 12, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
