After making a series of terrific direct-to-video animated films featuring a Lego-ized Justice League, Warner Bros. Animation gives the Lego treatment to another beloved Warner Bros.-owned property with Lego Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood. Though it’s not as great as the Lego Justice League films, it’s still delightfully fun.
The plot of the movie is a standard Scooby Gang adventure: they win a trip to a visit an old movie studio, which happens to be haunted by classic horror movie monsters, while at the same time, is being threatened by bankruptcy. With that, the movie unfolds as you would expect. Mystery-solving. Jokes. Snacks. Traps. Chase scenes. Criminals in monster costumes. “And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!” All the classic elements of the Scooby-Doo cartoon. But with the narrative playing out in a world constructed in Lego and which functions in the absurd logic and physics of its nature, it gives a fresh spin to the whole thing, like the delivery of gags only possible in a Lego world.
I was thoroughly entertained by it. Its production elements – especially the adorable animation – and the voice acting give it an endearing ambience. It’s enjoyably goofy and organically charming. The comedy isn’t as clever as that from Lego Justice League, so I didn’t laugh as much, but it’s definitely kid-friendly hilarious, that I constantly had this pleased, amused smile on my face while watching it.
Lastly, I love the implication of having Lego Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywoodmade. It seems that Warner Bros. Animation is expanding the Lego animated franchise in direct-to-video as much as in theatrical form (really looking forward to next year’s The Lego Batman Movie). It makes me excited what property they would Lego-ized next – and I’m optimistic that it’ll be delightful, too.