Having enjoyed the original cartoon series from 1969 to 1970, I saw this live-action adaptation when it first came out in theaters. After about fifteen minutes, I gradually grew more and more let down. However, watching it again recently, I have to say it’s better the second time around. What stood out most on my initial viewing were Matthew Lillard's portrayal of Shaggy and Linda Cardellini as Velma. Freddy Prinze Jr. did a good job playing Fred, while Sarah Michelle Gellar didn’t quite seem right for Daphne, though she was certainly acceptable; I imagine she got the part because she was popular at the time. Isla Fisher’s appearance as Mary Jane was an enjoyable addition. The CGI Scooby-Doo looked pretty good for 2002 and still holds up well. I initially hoped for a straightforward live-action adaptation of the cartoon, something similar to "The Flintstones" from 1994. What I received instead was a mix of tribute and spoof. This would have worked fine with me, but the movie dragged during the “Spooky Island” sequence, which makes up the second and third acts and takes up roughly an hour of screen time. The problem with this large portion of the film is that the "Spooky Island" set was simply too cartoonish for a live-action tribute. It really turned me off. Looking back, I suppose the cartoonish style made sense since it’s based on a cartoon. Watching it again, I had the same impressions up to around thirty minutes in, but the final hour won me over. I still don't like how unrealistic “Spooky Island” looks, but I was impressed with the "well of souls" storyline and its complications, as well as how they incorporated Scrappy-Doo into the plot. I used to think I was alone in disliking Scrappy-Doo, but now I realize my feelings were pretty widespread. He became a symbol of an overly enthusiastic or cute character added to a series to boost ratings—what’s known as the Cousin Oliver Syndrome (named after the character from the final season of The Brady Bunch). Ultimately, this live-action "Scooby-Doo" is definitely better on repeat viewings. If you disliked it initially, I suggest giving it another chance. Besides the obvious strengths, like Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini perfectly embodying Shaggy and Velma, the film also features Isla Fisher in a substantial role, along with inventive plot elements such as the "well of souls" and Scrappy-Doo’s inclusion. The running time is 1 hour and 36 minutes, which feels appropriate for cartoonish material like this; it was filmed in Queensland, Australia. GRADE: C+/B-

Source on TMDB