Wallis Academy, Piccadilly, Glenelg & Noarlunga, Hoyts Norwood, Tea Tree Plaza & Salisbury, Greater Union Arndale & Marion, Semaphore Odeon Star

Reviewed by Melissa Phillips

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SOMETIMES bringing well-loved cartoon characters from 30-minute TV shows to the big screen isn't such a good idea, as they just can't live up to cherished childhood memories.

But director Raja Gosnell deserves a big round of Scooby snacks for staying true to the original elements of the popular 1970s show.

There's the cheesy plot, the meddling kids, chaotic chase scenes, spooky spectres and plenty of submarine sandwiches.

While the typical, original cartoon plot isn't enough to sustain a feature movie, it has been improved by the whizz-bang computer graphics of the lovable, scaredy-cat great dane, Scooby-Doo.

Thin script aside, the film does have a modern edge, playing on what really is in those tantalising Scooby snacks - could it be something illegal?

It's all done quite smartly in a tongue-in-cheek way, making sure the only smoke coming from the Mystery Machine is from a barbecue grill and not a pipe.

Action is essentially aimed at children with a few in-jokes for Scoobster fans.

The Mystery Inc. crime solvers are enjoying the beach life when they are lured to Mystery Island (''ruh-roh'').

The island's mysterious owner, Mondavarious (Rowan Atkinson) believes a curse is turning his teenage revellers at his theme park into mindless zombies. The movie is light-hearted, slapstick fun but the filmmakers step in a bit of doggy do-do by forgetting there is always a rational explanation for the ghosts and ghouls. That's not the case here.

Lowering the tone, in an obvious attempt to appeal to teenagers, is a Scooby and Shaggy farting competition, which badly misfires.

Latest computer graphics technology by visual effects group, Rhythm and Hues, brings the pooch to life and allows him to act almost seamlessly with the actors.

Matthew Lillard, as Shaggy, has the most interaction with the CG-dog and he puts in an amazing performance. He is Shaggy all over, from the high-pitched voice to the slouched walk, and he goes close to stealing the show.

Newcomer Linda Cardellini nails Velma's vocal traits and is suitably brainy, while Freddie Prinze Jnr is bleach-blonde dumb and Sarah Michelle Gellar makes a fit and terrific Daphne.

It's a case of Scooby Dooby Do if you love the cartoon series and Scooby Dooby Don't if you're looking for more than that.