Will somebody please raise the dead and get William Hanna to team up with the (still alive as of this writing) Joseph Barbera to write a decent Scooby Doo script? At least I didn't fall asleep at the theater like I did watching the first Scooby Doo movie. So, why would I subject myself to another sleep inducing theater experience? One: I enjoyed the Scooby cartoons as a child, two: I believe that a good Scooby movie can be made, and three: our kids wanted to go! Yes, our kids thoroughly enjoyed both Scooby flicks, and there is something magical about a child's laughter that can make you forget a painful viewing experience. These Scooby films are clearly family affairs. If you are single and above the age of 13 and want to take your date to something awful which provides plenty of makeout time, then Scooby 2 should be in your crosshairs. The plot? Well ... there is sort of one.

Warning: some spoilers ahead.

Mystery Inc. is in the limelight at a museum over all their previous "unmaskings" when suddenly a monster bird crashes the party and turns them onto a new case: they must find out who is making monsters. What follows is an hour and a half of clue surfing, a lame and totally unimaginative Velma (Linda Cardellini) love story with Seth Green, Scooby and Shaggy (Matthew Lillard) feeling they aren't worthy, fart jokes aplenty, Fred (Freddie Prinze Jr) destroys his dignity as an actor, Daphne (Sarah Michelle Gellar) wearing way too much makeup and going Bruce Lee (since when did Daphne ever know martial arts?) on a haunted Knight and well ... not nearly enough bad jokes. They need to make this more like a Naked Gun flick starring Scooby Doo to make this work across all age groups.

That's the major problem with these Scooby flicks, they don't stick enough to the formula of the classic cartoon. They should have much, much more Scooby and Shaggy doing crazy stuff and less of the other characters trying to do anything but solve a compelling mystery. Also, what about the guest stars that made the later days of the cartoon series fun to watch? Just imagine mixing in the American Idol stars like they used to do with the Harlem Globtrotters, Sonny and Cher, Don Knotts, etc. The whole point of the cartoons was that Scooby and Shaggy we're always on a quest to sate their neverending appetites and other zany, far-out activities, but in the movies viewers are left with a 2004 version that barely resembles the cartoon. A Scooby experience is supposed to be a heavy dose of sillyness and over the top fun with a cool, compelling mystery and to date neither of the first Scooby movies have provided a mystery that makes sense and not enough Scooby and Shaggy zaniness.

With all that said, if you have kids under age 13, then they will probably enjoy Scooby 2. Fellow Blogcritic Mark Saleski already reviewed the soundtrack, but I will add that Ruben fans will get to view him as the credits roll and I noticed viewers were sticking around to watch the Velvet Teddy Bear. My grading of the film assumes that you are taking the family (if you are going yourself then it's a D- at best). Price spent, including popcorn and soda, for family of five: $62. Here's a good alternative: get the original Scooby Doo cartoon DVD which contains both the first and second seasons. Now that is worth a few Scooby snacks. Grade: C-

A shorter version of this review originally appeared at Things That ... Make You Go Hmm