Scooby-Doo In Pirates Ahoy! (DVD)
APPROX. 80 MINS. - PROD. YEAR: 2006 - MPA RATING: NR
" Pirates Ahoy! simply isn't as clever or well-written as the best entries in the series, and the visuals and music aren't as strong.
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There are some clever allusions to "Poseidon," with Freddy Rodriguez (who was killed off pretty early in that disaster film) putting in an appearance here as the lone survivor of a ghost pirate attack. But the plot itself is as conceptually far-fetched as the narrative is visually uninspired. In the end, people are unmasked, but it takes three separate and overly long explanations to try to clear everything up, instead of the usual ONE. And even then, you're shaking your head a bit, unless you're as trusting and accepting as a four year old. The gimmicks the gang uses to solve the mystery just aren't as interesting either, this time around, and some of the things they do are downright hokey. In one instance, the gang is tied to the mainmast with one-inch thick rope, but all it takes for them to get loose is for Daphne to pull out her credit card and saw away on it with the smooth edge for just a few seconds. Even youngsters will raise their eyebrows over that one.
Video: The video is the standard 1.33:1 presentation fans have grown accustomed to, with bright so intense that they almost look artificial and a general sharpness of images and lack of graininess that's pleasing on the eyes. No complaints here.
Audio: The audio is Dolby Digital 5.1, and the timbre is appropriately bright, with the distribution across the speakers sounding natural enough. Curiously, though, when the Irish music plays in the background, it doesn't have the resonance you'd think it would. But this is nit-picking.
Extras: The only extra is a multi-stage game, "The Bermuda Maneuver Challenge," which children will enjoy—particularly the level where you shoot coconuts from a giant slingshot at the heads of pirates who appear, as in a shooting gallery, in cannon hatches on the pirate ship. I don't know how much repeat play it will get, because it doesn't seem to be all that challenging, but it was amusing enough for the first few plays.
Bottom Line: "Pirates Ahoy!" simply isn't as clever or well-written as the best entries in the series, and the visuals and music aren't as strong. It might appeal to the wee ones, but older kids and Scooby fans will probably be disappointed by this one.
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