*** My SCOOB! review is now live ***
The animated origins story for Scooby Doo himself, and Ben Affleck’s basketball drama, will be available to rent on PVOD on 10 July. (That’s premium video on demand.)
Anyone renting the films from participating digital retailers will get 48 hours to watch.
The essential movie for any dog lover who likes to unmask criminals in their spare time, SCOOB! reveals the never-before-told story of Scooby-Doo’s origins. The film shows how one of history’s most famous friendships began when an adorable, homeless puppy met a lonesome young boy named Shaggy, and how the two of them joined forces with aspiring young detectives Fred, Velma and Daphne to become the celebrated Mystery Inc.
Now, with hundreds of cases solved and adventures shared, Scooby and the gang face the biggest and most challenging mystery of their careers: a plot that will unleash the legendary ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this “dogpocalypse” they discover that Scooby has a secret legacy and an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined. (Why are children’s films so much more exciting than adults’ ones!)
In terms of casting, all you really need to know is that Jason Isaacs is the infamous Dick Dastardly. Okay if you want the rest, Will Forte is Shaggy, Gina Rodriguez stars as Velma, Zac Efron is Fred and Amanda Seyfried is Daphne.
Two-time Oscar nominee Mark Wahlberg is Blue Falcon; Kiersey Clemons is Falcon Fury pilot Dee Dee Skyes; Ken Jeong is the Falcon Force’s Dynomutt; Tracy Morgan is Captain Caveman (or as anyone my age knows him, CAPTAIN CAVEMANNNNNNN!); and Frank Welker is Scooby-Doo himself. SCOOB! is directed by Tony Corvine.
Finding The Way Back stars Academy Award winner Ben Affleck as Jack Cunningham, who back in High School had everything going for him as a basketball phenomenon – but instead he chose to walk away from the game, forfeiting his future.
Jack’s glory days are long gone but, it turns out, not forgotten. Years later, he gets the chance to coach the struggling basketball team at his alma mater. Jack reluctantly accepts – and as the boys start to come together as a team and win, Jack may get his last shot at redemption. (As you can probably tell from the complete lack of mentions of John Wick, Gerard Butler’s American accent and my loathing of porridge, I didn’t write that. It sounds good though, and the film, previously known as The Way Back, has had impressive reviews.)
Finding The Way Back is directed by The Accountant director Gavin O’Connor and also stars Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, Janina Gavankar, Glynn Turman, Brandon Wilson, Will Ropp, Charles Lott Jr. and Melvin Gregg.