Scooby-Doo

7/15/2025

**_Better the second time around_** Being a fan of the original cartoon from 1969-1970, I saw this live-action version when it debuted at the theater. After the first 15 minutes or so I slowly became more and more disappointed. Yet upon seeing it again last night, I must say it's better on repeat viewings. What most impressed me on my first viewing was Matthew Lillard as Shaggy and Linda Cardellini as Velma. Freddy Prinze Jr. as Fred is good while Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne wasn't quite right for the role, although certainly serviceable; I'm sure she got the part because of her popularity at the time. The addition of the winsome Isla Fisher as Mary Jane is a peripheral highlight. The CGI Scooby was good for the time (2002) and holds up pretty well. On my initial viewing I was