The Film
If I had to wager, I would say that the creators of Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery have had one too many Scooby Snacks. Apparently, that's just what you need to make a movie about a bunch of classic rock icons teaming up with a talking dog and his friends to solve a great rock n' roll mystery. Zoinks!
That's pretty much the idea, though. The 24th direct-to-video release for Scooby-Doo finds the gang investigating what's terrorizing KISS World, the all-things-KISS amusement park. It's apparently the creepy Crimson Witch, who wants to call up the Destroyer from an alternate dimension known as KISSteria. However, Starchild (Paul Stanley), Demon (Gene Simmons), Catman (Eric Singer) and Spaceman (Tommy Thayer) are also on the premises, looking to take care of business by themselves. That just may be possible because the quartet seems to have all kinds of crazy superpowers.
Say what now?
It doesn't matter. Scooby-Doo has been teaming up with famous faces for crazy cases for years. This one is pretty fun though, because KISS does surprisingly well when they're animated and seem pretty willing to poke a little fun at themselves in the process. (Look for the KISS toilet, as well as binoculars, smelling salts, KISS Kakes, and flashlights to appear.)
The film also has plenty of other famous voices worth mentioning, including Garry Marshall, Penny Marshall, Jennifer Carpenter, Pauley Perrette, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes.
It should be noted that the Crimson Witch may be too creepy for the littlest viewers, but the Destroyer is voiced by Darius Rucker. Yes, Hootie. How scary can it be?
Remember, this is still a Scooby-Doo adventure. If you're a fan of the gang or have one at home, I could think of a lot worse ways to spend 79 minutes. Of course, anyone who considers themselves part of the KISS Army should absolutely consider Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery to be a day-one purchase. It's uses animation to convey the band's music, style and legacy -- and it works.
The Picture
This isn't a big-budget Pixar flick; it's Scooby-Doo -- and not even the live-action movie. However, this 1.78:1 image is pretty surprising and fun to watch, with bright colors and nice animation throughout. Being a cartoon, the colors are really the standout here, most notably on the theme park rides, the confetti blasts, the presence of the Crimson Witch, and whenever KISS unleashes their rock n' roll superpowers.
The Sound
There are six KISS songs throughout Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery. In some ways, it plays like a greatest hits album. Be thankful. During the musical moments, the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track really rocks the entire soundfield. There's also plenty of action, all of which sounds great here. The powerful track is shocking for a Scooby-Doo cartoon, let alone a direct-to-video one. And with all of those pows, blasts and guitar riffs, the dialogue is crystal clear throughout.
The Extras
It looks like maybe Warner Bros. spent all of the budget on guest stars and possibly KISS makeup. This section is surprisingly slim. It would have been great to have a KISS "kommentary" track or even something lengthy on the band and their animated adventures. (This isn't the first.) It also would have been great to have a featurette on the various famous guest stars Scooby-Doo has had over the years. Instead, there are bloopers, a short on who is a Scooby and who is a Shaggy, and two classic Scooby-Doo episodes.
Final Thoughts
You don't have to be a member of the KISS Army to enjoy Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery, but it certainly helps. Despite the lack of extras, fans will devour this rockin' extended Scooby-Doo episode on release day. It has the music, the mayhem, and plenty of nods to the band's legacy. If you're not a fan but can still appreciate some Mystery Machine adventures, it's still a fun purchase, with great audio and video.
Product Details
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