Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! (2007)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Chill Out, Scooby Doo! (2007)** (out of 4) Fred, Velma and Daphne are on vacation in Paris where they're supposed to meet Shaggy and Scooby. The only problem is that the two misfits end up in the Himalayas Mountains at the same time a mysterious snow creature has been spotted and it doesn't take long for everyone to meet. CHILL OUT, SCOOBY DOO! is one of the most boring features I've seen from the beloved dog and his gang, which is pretty shocking because the location and monster should have led to a much more entertaining film. Just to say how bad this one is, my son who absolutely loves everything Scooby pretty much tuned this one out after about twenty-minutes and it was a real chore trying to get him to finish it. There are all sorts of problems here but the biggest is that the filmmakers turn Scooby and Shaggy into a couple of idiots. Yes, the series and feature movies have always gotten laughs out of them but the attempt at humor was just so forced and so over-the-top that I couldn't help but get annoyed at it. The supporting laughs with the rest of the gang also fall flat and in the end there's really nothing funny to be seen here. The snow monster was a plus as it looked terrific and the Himalayas were a terrific location but it's just too bad more wasn't done with it. The original series had an episode called "That's Snow Ghost," which is the thing you should check out over this feature.

Like always I was really excited to watch the next Scooby-Doo mystery but this one especially because I've always been extremely interested in big foot, and the Abominable snow man, also one of my favourite episode of Scooby-Doo was what's that snow ghost so I found myself mega excited to watch. By the end I liked it but was still left disappointed, once again it lacks funny jokes, and again is to dragged out. On the other hand I was very pleased with the voice over cast, interesting storyline, and clever twist, but sadly once again the twist was very predictable near the middle of the cartoon.The gang are planing a vacation to Paris but Shaggy and Scooby get kidnapped by hunter and are instead sent to the Himalay's, home of mount Everest and the Abominable snow man. Upon hearing that Shaggy and Scooby are stranded the rest of the gang are quickly to the rescue. When they arrive they realize that they are nowhere to be found as they are headed up the mountain to a weather station to contact the others. With a few run ins with the creature the gang are determined to solve the mystery.The best part about this cartoon was definitely the voice acting, this is really what saved it. once again we get to enjoy the voices of Frank Welker as Fred and Scooby-Doo, Grey Delisle as Daphne, Mindy Cohn as Velma, and of course Casey Kasem as Shaggy who all once again do a wonderful job. Joining the cast we have Rene Auberjonois as Alphonse LaFleur, Jeff Bennett as Del Chillman, Alfred Molina as Professor Jeffries, and James Hong as the High Lama. Once again this is really what saved this cartoon, if it wasn't for these great voice actors this would have been a total loss, with an interesting storyline you need good actors.The storyline I was both impressed and let down by, I love the interesting topic of Big Foot and the Abominable snow man and even though I was constantly interested in the cartoon I was let down by the lack of good jokes, two times in a row now Scooby-Doo lacked good jokes. Also I was happy to see an interesting twist but once again was very predictable around the middle of the cartoon, but at least thats better than 20 mins like in pirates ahoy. The biggest disappointment to me was like the last Scooby-Doo cartoon it was very dragged out which I always hate seeing in a Scooby-Doo cartoon.At the end I was still left feeling a little stale but I still enjoyed it as was an interesting cartoon and mystery. I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be but I felt a lot better about this one unlike Pirates ahoy. If you are a Scooby-Doo fan you will definitely still want to see it no matter what and in my opinion it deserves to be seen at least once. So really it's a take it or leave it adventure much like the last one, so it's up to you with you rent or buy Chill out Scooby-Doo.Overall score: ****** out of ********** *** out of *****

I don't think the film was perfect, but I myself found it very worthwhile to watch. The plot is very simple and fun, and I thought the animation was very, very good, very colourful and fluid. Nice to see Paris, which is just an amazing city, I strongly recommend you go if you haven't already. The soundtrack was very nice too, and as usual the voice talents were excellent. Casey Kasem never fails to bring a smile to my face as Shaggy, I know I use this phrase a lot, but I find him very entertaining. Other voice actors that do that for me too are people like Jodi Benson, Tim Curry, Tony Jay and Frank Welker. Speaking of Welker, I much prefer Don Messick as Scooby, but Welker wasn't at all bad, though I do think he was better as Fred. Mindy Cohn and Grey DeLisle are fine too, and Daphne looks really pretty here, well she's always been pretty. In supporting roles, Rene Auberjoinis and Alfred Molina are very entertaining. Chill Out Scooby Doo does have its flaws though. Like What's New Scooby Doo? with the absence of the sound effects, it just lacked that Hanna Barbera touch. As much as I liked the plot, I do think the perpetrator got obvious a bit too early, but that's just an inkling that I have. My main problem was that I thought I noticed a contradiction. Daphne says in one scene "a yeti, what's a yeti?" and I found it odd at the time. Then it occurred to me, then again I could be wrong, that there was a Scooby Doo Where Are You episode when the gang chase a snow ghost, referred to by a supporting character as a yeti. Overall, a very entertaining Scooby Doo film, not the best, but a definite improvement on the appalling Shaggy and Scooby Doo Get a Clue. 7/10 Bethany Cox.

Shaggy and Scooby get on the wrong plane when en route to meet the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang in Paris and end up lost in the Himalayas while an abdominal snowman is on the loose. There is the usual amount of suspects and motives but it's just fresh enough to prevent the plot from becoming tiresome.The animation just gets better and better with each entry in the Scooby-Doo series and the bright colors and active sound design are a long way from the grainy TV show back in 1969 (though that still has its charm). Fans of the series will be glad to hear that the character of Dell Chillman from the Loch Ness adventure returns for this one, giving some continuity to the otherwise unrelated mysteries.I must admit that I preferred it when the monsters ended up being real but I guess that each mystery has its own logic and you'll be surprised at who is behind the mask of the adorable snowman.Keep 'em coming, Warner. That ol' Great Dane could live to a hundred.