Scooby Doo (2002)

Zoinks!
Throughout The Ages, One Hero Has Cowered Above The Rest.
The New Doo 2002
Be Afraid. Be Kind of Afraid.
A Hero Will Rise. On Four Legs.
The Gang’s All Here

Isla plays Mary-Jane

Director: Raja Gosnell
Writer(s): James Gunn (screenplay), Craig Titley and James Gunn(story), based off characters by William Hanna and
Joseph Barbera
Genre: Family, Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Filming: Filmed in Queensland, Australia from February 12th to June 1st 2001.
Budget: $84m estimated
Box Office: Made a total of $275,650,703 worldwide, $153m of which was from the US. Took in $54m on opening weekend in the US, opening at #1 at the box office. Made £5m opening weekend in the UK. Had the 13th highest BO in the US in 2002.
Runtime: 86 minutes
Rating: PG

 

The Mystery Inc. gang have gone their separate ways and have been apart for two years, until they each receive an invitation to Spooky Island. Not knowing that the others have also been invited, they show up and discover an amusement park that affects young visitors in very strange ways. Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby soon realize that they cannot solve this mystery without help from each other.

 

Co-Starring

Freddie Prinze Jr. … as Fred
Sarah Michelle Gellar … as Daphne
Matthew Lillard … as Shaggy
Linda Cardellini … as Velma
Rowan Atkinson … as Mondavarious
Miguel A. Nunez Jr. … as Voodoo Maestro
Neil Fanning (voice) … as Scooby-Doo
Scott Innes (voice) … as Scrappy-Doo

 

International Release Dates

Opened on June 14th 2002 in the US, following in Australia on June 20th, and the UK on July 12th. Worldwide release followed throughout 2002.

 

Character Information

Isla plays Mary-Jane, a pretty blonde girl Shaggy and Scooby meet on the plane to Spooky Island, with whom Shaggy falls head over heels in love with. Mary Jane is sweet, innocent and dedicated to Shaggy, she loves scooby snacks, but is allergic to dogs. Once at Spooky Island, Mary Jane sticks with Scooby and Shaggy, and accompanies them on some of their adventures around the island. What twists and turns are ahead for them though? Mary Jane may be a girl with a secret…

 

Media

Scooby Doo Scooby Doo Scooby Doo Scooby Doo Scooby Doo

Photos: Gallery at Isla Fisher Web
Videos: Videos at Isla Fisher Web

 

Trivia

• Sarah Michelle Gellar was supposed to be the only red head in the movie, so Isla had to have lighter locks. Some reports say she wore a wig, whereas others say she dyed it. She said of her blonder look, “It looked horrible. But I did get more honks when I would walk down the street.”

• This is Isla’s first major movie role.

• Isla speaks with an American accent in this role.

• Continuity Error: When Mary Jane grabs both Scooby and Shaggy while they were escaping from the bad guys, the hand she is holding Shaggy changes from the left to her right after she breathes on him.

• Isla was offered representation in Hollywood after appearing at the Scooby Doo premiere in LA. She hadn’t been to the US to look for work before that, and only went there for the premiere, but was soon offered representation and following that, more jobs.

• Has jokingly referred to this film as “the Academy Award-nominated” Scooby Doo.

• The use of the name ‘Mary-Jane’ is a (drug) reference to Shaggy’s other great love in life, and one of the darker aspects of the film. Many of the originally intended darker aspects were cut out or toned down to make the film more family friendly.

• Isla says she grew up watching Scooby Doo in Australia.

• Isla enjoyed working in Tangalooma Island (in Queensland), calling it a “beautiful place”.

• Isla had told reporters by December 2002 that she wasn’t coming back for the sequel to this.

• To date (2016), this is the 3rd biggest box office hit of Isla’s career – only $50m behind Wedding Crashers and just behind Horton Hears A Who.

 

Quotes: Isla, Cast & Crew

Isla Fisher: “When I did my first audition for the movie Scooby Doo, they flew me to America first class. At the time, I didn’t have any money and then I was flown to LA and put up at the Mondrian Hotel. It was like landing on Mars!”

Isla Fisher: “You’d have to ask the writers of the cartoon. We did a family version.” (on whether Shaggy is stoned all the time)

Isla Fisher: “The best part of making this movie was being part of an institution, something that has been in people’s childhoods and is something that means a lot to a lot of people.”

Isla Fisher: “Well, he was animated and it was difficult to kind of relate to him – but it was great.” (when asked what it was like to work with Scooby Doo)

Matthew Lillard: “I’d never ridden a quad bike before so I got out there and they taught me how to do that. Actually the scariest thing about riding a quad bike was having Isla Fisher on your back screaming – she was so terrified of the bad guy chasing us. She’s such a wuss.”

 

Quotes: Character

Shaggy: “Boy oh boy, those sure do look like Scooby snacks!”
Mary Jane: “I know they’re for dogs, but they’re 100% vegetarian, and I love them.”
Shaggy: “Like, me too!”
Mary Jane: “Far out! I have never met another person who loves Scooby snacks.”
Shaggy: “Me neither!”
Mary Jane: “I’m Mary Jane.”
Shaggy: “Like, that is my favorite name!”

[presenting her with a toy he won from a claw machine]
Shaggy: “Voila”
Mary Jane: “Nobody’s ever given me a stuffed dismembered head before!”

Mary Jane: “I saw my friend Beth-Anne, there’s something wrong with her eyes!”
Shaggy: “Like hop on!”

 

Reviews

Variety: “But Atkinson isn’t given nearly enough to do in a role that could have used more over-the-top oomph, and other supporting players — including Miguel A. Nunez Jr. as a dubious voodoo practitioner and Isla Fisher as a cutie who falls for Shaggy — are stuck with even thinner parts.”

Zone-SF.com: “The supporting cast including Rowan Atkinson (as Mondavarious), and Isla Fisher (of TV’s Home And Away) as Shaggy’s love-interest, are also very good.”

Washington Post: “You don’t want to love this, but you will.”

TV Guide: “As live-action adaptations of cheap, unapologetically stupid cartoons go, this is as good as it gets: The cast is appealing, the sets brightly colored and fun to look at, the mystery as lame and goofy as any featured in the many inexplicably beloved Scooby-Doo cartoons.”

 

Fisher Fantastic

This is a fun movie. Isla appears in several scenes throughout, although her character is slightly superfluous … though obviously still enjoyable to watch! I felt Mary-Jane got kind of lost within the rest of the movie – the characters and storylines – but that was ok because she didn’t add much. The movie is silly, yes, but if you’re looking for some very light hearted family fun then this should do the trick, because it is entertaining. It’s obviously a big ‘milestone’ in Isla’s carer, being her first Hollywood movie and her break-out role in the US.

 

Promotion

Isla did a fair amount of promotion for this movie, attending events for the film in London, Australia and LA. This was her first promotional tour for a film. First up was the world premiere in LA, which Isla attended with her mum. She then promoted the film back home in Australia, attending a premiere, screening, and the launch of a Scooby Doo themed rollercoaster, alongside co-star Linda Cardellini. The final stop was the London premiere in July.

Isla Fisher Web‘s Press page (related: 2002 interviews)
Isla Fisher Web‘s 2002 Appearances Gallery



 

Related Links

News & Updates for Scooby Doo at Isla Fisher Web

IMDB
Wikipedia

Amazon.co.uk – purchase on Amazon Video
Amazon.co.uk – purchase the DVD
Amazon.co.uk – purchase the Blu-ray
Amazon.com – purchase on Amazon Video
Amazon.com – purchase the DVD
Amazon.com – purchase the Blu-ray
EzyDVD.com.au – purchase the DVD
EzyDVD.com.au – purchase the Blu-ray

 

Last Updated: July 27th 2012