Ruh Roh! "Scooby Doo, Where Are You!"

Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (1969)

TV G

Starring  Don Messick, Casey Kasem, Nicole Jaffe, Frank Welker, Stefanianna Christopherson, Heather North

The Story:

4 Sleuths and their talking dog uncover the truth behind apparent supernatural mysteries.

Seriously, how in-depth do you want me to make a synopsis of Scooby Doo?

I'm more curious how they could get away with using an exclamation point in the title when clearly they are asking a question.

:)

Can we all assume everyone has at least seen an episode?

If not, these are the episodes to see.

The first two seasons...the best two seasons.

Everything you wanted to know about Scooby and the Gang can be gleaned by watching these episodes.

And now you know the secret of why I have so many children, and why I creatively spaced them out like I did.

This way, I can keep introducing the next generation of fans to some of the best animation and fun shows that I had the privilege to grow up watching.

;)

It could be argued that Scooby Doo is the most successful feather in the Hanna Barbera cap, and I would be willing to agree.

Naturally, I'll put the Flintstones first, but I've got a lot of love for Scooby (Messick), Shaggy (Kasem) and the rest of the gang.

Happily, aside from some Daphne switching (Christopherson to North), the gang that voiced the original Scooby episodes pretty much were given the opportunity to voice their most famous creations in many of the updated iterations that has brought Scooby and his crime solving sleuths to the screen.

That includes ascot wearing Fred (Welker) and the brainy Velma (Jaffe).

Naturally, nearly every episode plays out the exact same way, so watching episode after episode can become very déjà vu-ish, but most of the jokes and gags work just as well now as they did over 40 years ago.

My little 2 year old had recently discovered the new Scooby stuff on Netflix, but was totally enchanted when the originals were cracked out of the DVD case and watched with the family.

I even got her to say "Rooby Roo".

Now that's priceless!

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: While you don't have to have children to appreciate this part of your youth, but it doesn't hurt.  And it provides cover for watching them again.  :)

The Discovery of the Missing Link... "The Croods"

Not your typical stone-age family...

The Story:

Grug (Nicholas Cage) has spent his life keeping his family alive.  However his oldest daughter, Eep (Emma Stone) in typical teenage fashion is looking to broaden her horizons outside of the cave.  When she meets a mysterious stranger named Guy (Ryan Reynolds), she longs to go with him on his quest for a better tomorrow.  When the cave is destroyed by an earthquake, Grug will have to follow Guy on their quest to find safety on higher ground.  Trying new things is bad, and that's all Guy is really about.

This was a cute movie, perhaps overhyped by my kids on how great and awesome it was.

:)

It was good, don't get me wrong.

The animation was beautiful and the voice acting was tremendous.

Nicholas Cage is somewhat restrained in his role.  How often can you really say that about any Nicholas Cage role, since, oh I don't know... the 80s?

Ryan Reynolds plays himself, as usual.  Of course, as I've said before, I absolutely love Ryan Reynolds and all that he does.  Been a fan since Van Wilder, and enjoy anytime he turns up in a movie.

The movie centers around Emma Stone, and functions as a coming of age story for her where she will reject her father to follow the man that has stolen her heart.

Thankfully, she's less rebellious and stubborn than a red-haired mermaid that I know...

Plus, the makers do realize that ultimately the dad wasn't such a lunk-head, and without him, none of them would have survived.

So they managed to pull the movie back up and save it at the end when the father and daughter share their goodbyes.

Dads, get  your tissues ready, that's going to be your girl someday.

:: sigh ::

The colors in the movie are lush and vibrant.  I wasn't the biggest fan of the character models.  Some odd dinosaur choices, and the Croods themselves have an unusual body composition. 

Of course, I'm a guy that likes simple cavemen stories...

Like the Flintstones. ;)

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I'm pretty sure there's a kid or 7 that will demand this be under the tree this holiday season...