Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 17, 2015

The band KISS doesn’t have a particularly encouraging history with theme park mysteries. In 1978, the group starred in “KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park,” a fantastically ridiculous television movie that attempted to rebrand the creatures of the night as comic book heroes, with their shared superpower apparently being complete acting inability. Decades have passed, blockbuster tours have rocked the world, and KISS has finally found a place of professional stability. Returning to the hero realm, the unit has teamed up with cartoon legends for “Scooby-Doo! And KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery,” which brings back the roller coasters, the themed property, and underground evildoing from an enigmatic villain. Wisely avoiding a live-action extravaganza, KISS makes a fine transition to animation, contributing songs, one-liners, and artful spectacle as the musicians befriend a talking dog and his sleuthing friends for an adventure that travels through space and devours churros, making theme parks safe again for highly decorated rock bands.

At the theme park KISS World, trouble has arrived with the Crimson Witch, a gaseous specter demanding the return of the Detroit Rock, a black diamond capable of awakening the Destroyer (Darius Rucker), a Galactus-style evil behemoth. With the ghost terrorizing guests before a Halloween concert by KISS, park manager Manny Goldman (Garry Marshall) demands a full investigation. Already on their way to attend the big show, Scooby-Doo (Frank Welker), Shaggy (Matthew Lillard), Daphne (Grey Griffin), Velma (Mindy Cohn), and Fred (Welker) put themselves on the case, hunting for clues that could reveal the identity of the Crimson Witch. Also on duty is KISS, with Demon (Gene Simmons), Starchild (Paul Stanley), Catman (Eric Singer), and Spaceman (Tommy Thayer) battling to solve the situation, competing with Mystery Machine gang. While manager Chip McGoo (Doc McGhee) attempts to keep order and sell KISS merchandise, the detective collectives decide to band together, tearing through dimensions to discover the secret of Kissteria and The Elder (Penny Marshall), with hopes to rock the world once again.

There isn’t much of a budget behind “Rock and Roll Mystery,” which gives directors Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone (a talented pair) an opportunity to have some real fun with the project. Clearly, the feature has been crafted by KISS fans, with supporting characters including tech manager Shandi Strutter (Rachael Ramras), her underlings Beth and Christine, park psychic Chikara (Jennifer Carpenter), and security chief Delilah Domino (Pauley Perrette). KISS World is teeming with references, including a Dynasty Ferris Wheel that also acts as a portal to the cosmic realm of Kissteria, while each of the band members has a ride based on their individual superhero persona. There are knowing pokes at omnipresent KISS merchandise as well, with McGoo always ready with a sales pitch when the gang needs something special to help them out of a jam (e.g. KISS-branded smelling salts, handcuffs, and a toilet). “Rock and Roll Mystery” is an official “Scooby-Doo” release, but it’s made for the KISS Army (which counts Daphne as a member), with fans sure to be delighted as nods to KISStory are blended with cartoon action, often quite skillfully.

Instead of running through the motions, “Rock and Roll Mystery” is cleverly made, opening with a main title sequence that plays with abstract KISS imagery while the band’s music blasts away. While the primary adventure remains familiar to “Scooby-Doo” admirers, the production uses action sequences to push animated boundaries, mixing in tributes to anime and Marvel-style heroism to transform a band led by two sixtysomething men into spry, bendy warriors in possession of rainbow superpowers and access to dimensional travel onboard a guitar-shaped spaceship. KISS is immense fun in “Rock and Roll Mystery,” from design achievements to performances, with the group clearly enjoying their time as cartoon adventurers. In the nearly 40 years since “Phantom of the Park,” KISS has grown comfortable with acting, contributing sizable laughs as the painted rockers encounter the iconic sleuths.

While the focus is on KISS, “Rock and Roll Mystery” does make room for the Scooby gang, finding Daphne the force driving the group’s participation in the theme park puzzle. In love with Starchild, Daphne’s pursuit of the guitarist commences a jealousy subplot with Fred, who’s fiercely devoted to his favorite band, The Ascot Five. Velma doesn’t have much time for fandom, remaining true to character as she searches for a way to expose the Crimson Witch sham. And Shaggy and Scooby are the guinea pigs, sent into KISS World to explore the property, sample fried foods and a green room buffet, and ride the attractions, including time on a flume that quickly becomes a wide-awake nightmare, while offering the production another chance to break out of the norm and animate hypnotic, creative visuals. And there’s the opportunity to see the unit decked out in KISS makeup, with the exception of Fred, who prefers his own design: a tiny moon on his cheek that resembles a black eye.

Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation does an impressive amount with a limited budget, blasting the screen with vibrant primaries, accentuating the KISS world and the cartoon realm with secure, bold hues. Rainbow KISS powers are a visual highlight, while the deep red of the Crimson Witch registers accurately. There's an ideal range of detail to explore, with crisp, thick animation keeping the frame open for inspection, packing the picture with inside jokes and the expanse of the park, which boasts fan-baiting design particulars -- plenty of pauseable moments. Delineation is sharp and communicative. Some mild banding is detected.

Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix packs a surprising punch for a "Scooby-Doo" movie. The theme park setting (with its roaring rides) delivers some interesting directional activity, utilizing the rears instead of using them primarily to push out soundtrack selections and scoring. Music sounds full, offering deep bass and convincing low-end rumbling, while drumming retains ideal snap. KISS tunes are loud and heavy, supporting action sequences with power. Dialogue exchanges are fresh and clean, presenting welcoming definition on individual performances and a firm handle on group activity.

Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "To Switch a Witch" (22:35, SD) and "The Diabolical Disc Demon" (22:35, SD) are two 1978 episodes from the "Scooby-Doo" archives.

• "Are You a Scooby or a Shaggy?" (2:00, HD) asks a portion of the voice cast (including KISS, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, and Darius Rucker) about their preferred "Scooby-Doo" character.

• "KISS Cut-Ups" (1:10, HD) is a short collection of mild bloopers from the band.

Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Rock and Roll Mystery" provides music from KISS, including "Shout It Out Loud," "I Was Made For Loving You," and "Detroit Rock City." No deep cuts, but the band's sound carries montages and chase sequences splendidly. The movie also provides the origin story for Demon Fire, giving Scooby and Shaggy a chance to fight back when cornered. "Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery" is immense fun, with bold visuals and big sound, but it never loses its cartoon appeal, keeping in line with the Scoobyverse as it serves up broad antics and silly villainy, staying true to the source material as it transforms into a KISS valentine. It's one money-making brand colliding into another, but it's executed with a degree of wit and plenty of imagination.