Out of the three Scooby-Doo! movies (the others being Scooby-Doo! and the Reluctant Werewolf and Scooby-Doo! and the Ghoul School) made for the Hanna-Barbera Super Stars 10 (a series of 10 made for TV Hanna-Barbera movies) this is the closest any of them come to the traditional Scooby-Doo! formula. Though the gang only consists of Scooby, Shaggy and Scrappy, they three do work together to solve a mystery involving a so-called haunting. Besides the absence of the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang, the other major difference between this and your typical Scooby-Doo! movie is that the gang is helped out by real ghosts. These real ghosts though are much less threatening than the fake ghosts who normally popularize the franchise. One reason is that they are "helping" (and I use that word very loosely) Scooby and friends and the other is that they are really only in the film for comedic purposes. The ghosts are a pretty obvious takeoff on The Three Stooges and while not as funny as the actual Stooges, they fulfil their comedy relief services quite well and got a few real laughs out of me.
Scrappy-Doo is probably the most hated character in the Scooby-Doo! franchise but I have to admit in this film I like him a lot. The filmmakers toned down the characters more obnoxious aspects (don't except to hear "puppy power" mentioned anywhere here."), and the character instead comes off as smart, self-assured and determined. This movie does of course keep the ongoing joke (that is in every incarnation of Scrappy) where he simply is oblivious to the fact that Scooby and Shaggy are not exactly brave. I personally love this joke and that has helped keep me from disliking Scrappy in any of his incarnations.
This film (like all the best Scooby-Doo! stories) has an incredible sense of atmosphere. The large empty mansion and a creepy southern swamp are just the places we like to see in a Scooby-Doo! mystery and they are handled to perfection here. The confederate ghost is creepy enough to gain suspense while still not too creepy to take away from the movie's lighthearted feel.
On the downside the mystery is too easy to solve and some jokes are poorly timed, dragging on past the point when they stop being funny. Still there is a lot to enjoy about this movie.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Comments