PARENTING NOW

by Bonnie L. Harris

Zoinks! A Hopeless Reboot

Warner Animation Rated: PG Streaming on Amazon

The creators of new Scooby Do o animate d feature reached too high and too wide for this mess of a film that sadly could have been a charming reboot for the beloved Saturday morning series. Five credited screenwriters tells you nobody could make up their minds about which story to tell so the producers chopped up the pieces and strung together something they thought would entertain kids. Part prequel and part sequel, Scoob bounces between origin story and an updated superhero saga with some Greek mythology to muddle the story even more. Personally, I loved the first ten minutes because I always wondered how Shaggy & Scooby met and how the gang, Fred, Velma, & Daphne, became friends. They solved their first myster y on Halloween, which w o u l d h a v e b e e n a great movie and a worthwhile adventure. But alas, the Scoob version jumps forward ten years and the cute kids with the budding personalities transform into their shallow adult stereotypes. Then, for no apparent reason, Blue Falcon & Dyno-Dog (who nobody’s ever heard of) appear to help save Scooby and the world from Dick Dastardly. He’s the caricature

villain with mini-robot minions and he’s after an ancient treasure that can only be unlocked after gathering three giant dog skulls. Somewhere in there, Scooby’s paw opens the door to the Greek underworld and we meet Muttley, Dick Dastardly’s dog that he sacrificed in a time portal. Did I mention it’s a complete mess of a movie? But Scooby and the gang survive the mayhem to return to the Venice boardwalk in CA and unveil their new PI business with a souped-up Mystery Machine. At $15 to rent or buy, Scoob apparently topped the streaming charts, but it’s only because there’s so little out there that’s new and parents are getting desperate.

FOR THE PARENTS

Sing for Me

Military Wives

Lionsgate Entertainment, Rated: PG-13. Streaming on Amazon

If you need a shot of feel-good charm that’ll make you laugh and cry, then Military Wives is a can’t miss. Inspired by true stories, it’s about a group of British women who create an amateur choir while their spouses are deployed in Afghanistan, and thanks to Amazon streaming, this indie gem is now available outside the UK. Military Wives doesn’t break any molds, in fact it’s absolutely formulaic, but it’s a sweet, uncomplicated movie filled with honest emotion that pulls you inside the characters’ lives as they search for ways to keep themselves and their families together. Kate, the Colonel’s wife, feels she

Lisa and Kate clash.

has to be strong and set a good example for the younger wives while Lisa, the Major’s wife, believes everyone needs to cope in their own way. As organizers Kate and Lisa needle and annoy each other as the choir comes together, but they both realize its value when they’re selected to sing for London’s annual Remembrance Day ceremony. The choir transforms from just a feminine morale booster to an essential lifeboat when tragedy strikes, and it’s a poignant struggle to bring everyone together for the wonderful final performance. Keep the tissue handy and enjoy every note!