‘Monsters Unleashed’ begins promisingly enough with a cleverly staged sequence regarding Mystery Inc.’s arrival at a gala event paying homage to their many mystery-solving achievements. Set in a large museum containing monster molds of their conquests, one suddenly comes to life and a plot is revealed to reanimate all of the monsters simultaneously, unleashing them on the city of Coolsville. After the museum is pretty much totaled and the fab four end up in a heap of bad publicity, brought on by a vapid TV reporter (Alicia Silverstone), they set out to solve the mystery. Also along for the ride is a geeky museum curator (Seth Green).

The problem with this film and its predecessor is simply that there’s no need whatsoever for them to be films. They remain live-action cartoons on the big screen, without any special new dimensions or cool new gimmicks. This only amplifies the silly trivialities of the mysteries themselves, and the whole thing feels like an unnecessary, reductive waste of time, complete with obvious Burger King product plugs, CGI effects and underdeveloped characters who manage a bit of half-hearted soul-searching. Yes, characters—they are important, even in a movie about a computer-generated, talking dog. One member of the cast seems to have a firm grasp on this concept.

Since the heat surrounding Prinze and Gellar has cooled considerably and by now the novelty of Lillard’s channeling Casey Kasem has worn off, we’re left with little to care about here (save for the CGI miracle that is Scooby). This brings me to the best thing in the movie, and that’s Linda Cardellini as brainy Velma. Would somebody just give her a lead in a good movie already? Cardellini aces the role (what there is of it), and if you watch closely you’ll get a lesson in just how to take a nothing role and walk away with a film (and your self-respect for appearing in ‘Scooby’). Whether she’s insecurely flirting with Green, or playing a stiff-as-a-board bombshell version of herself in a tight leather suit, she’s a pro all the way and the series’ secret weapon (though one wonders if the producers have yet taken note).

Silverstone continues to prove that her "Clueless" days were, unfortunately, an early career peak. She’s mostly forced here in a do-nothing role, though in one confrontation scene with Gellar she packs a formidable punch.

At least there is one clever line where a dejected Shaggy and Scooby peer in on the rest of the gang and Shaggy notes, "They’re about to have a montage without us." And that’s pretty much the film’s guffaw.