Coyote vs. Acme

This is the story of a movie that fought back against cancelation and low expectations to make a release date several years after being filmed.

Coyote vs. Acme is a live-action/animated mix in the vein of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but featuring the Looney Tunes. When Warner Brothers had the rights to the film, they decided that the movie would not make any money and they shelved it. Eventually, WB put the film up for sale but there were no takers. Everyone had the same fear… this would flop.

Finally, Ketchup Entertainment purchased Coyote vs. Acme and the film was going to be seen. While the film may eventually prove WB correct with its box office, at least the movie is able to be seen. The Looney Tunes are not as well known of an IP as they once were, and the struggle for the film is real. However, I can be happy to say that the film absolutely needed to be released because it is fabulous.

Rapscallion Wile E. Coyote, tired of Acme’s products constantly backfiring on him, saw an advertisement on TV from a lawyer named Kevin Avery (Will Forte) claiming to be able to get a settlement for any cartoon against Acme.

Actually, he was looking very low level, in the hundred dollars range. Kevin did not have the confidence that it would require to go up against a major corporation like Acme, with their top notch lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena) and CEO of Acme, Foghorn Leghorn (Eric Bauza).

As they dive into their case, they discovered more than just a case of some misfiring rocket skates.

This was great. It was funny. I was laughing the entire time. Will Forte did an amazing job of playing against the animated Wile E. Coyote, as well as John Cena, who was in full cheese-mode as Acme’s lead lawyer.

There were a ton of jokes that would be considered either inside jokes or Easter eggs that would reward the longtime viewers of Looney Tunes. I do worry that people who were not fans of Looney Tunes would not appreciate the jokes as much as I did. The writing was extremely clever, but was, potentially, too insider for the general audience.

The animation was excellent and it was such a fun film with the returning characters of these iconic Looney Tunes. I really loved seeing the characters such as Road Runner, Taz, Tweety, Daffy Duck etc. It was so awesome to see them all back.

I am so glad that this movie had a chance to be seen on a big screen. In a perfect world, this would be a huge film at the box office. Coyote vs. Acme was such a good time and such a wonderfully written film.

4.5 stars

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie

I do love the Looney Tunes. However, to be fair, Bugs Bunny is my favorite character. I was wearing my Bugs Bunny shirt when I went to see the new WB Animation movie The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. I knew that Daffy Duck and Porky Pig were the leads of the flick, but I was still hoping for a Bugs Bunny cameo. Unfortunately that did not happen.

Despite the disappointment over the lack of the rascally rabbit, I had fun with the feature-length animated film. There were some moments that I did not love, but, for the most part, this was a good time and the Looney Tunes remain a classic cartoon.

According to IMDB, “Porky and Daffy, the classic animated odd couple, turn into unlikely heroes when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. Against all odds, the two are determined to save their town (and the world!)…that is if they don’t drive each other crazy in the process.”

The early years with Daffy and Porky being raised by Farmer Jim were wonderful. The way the movie presented Farmer Jim was something special. I found every minute of Farmer Jim to be hilarious, and the different animation style on the character was perfect.

The film really is of two parts. The first part is dealing with the dangerous chewing gum, and the second part switches things up and has to deal with a planet wide emergency, both situations featured Daffy and Porky smack dab in the middle.

The voice acting was solid from a group of voice over actors that may not be known names, but who had plenty of experience to bring great work. They include Eric Bauza (both Porky and Daffy), Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol, Fred Tatasciore, Laraine Newman, Wayne Knight, Ruth Clampett, Kimberly Brooks, Keith Ferguson, and Peter Browngardt.

The Looney Tunes certainly have a place in today’s animated films and this should show that. I want Bugs Bunny next time, though.

3.75 stars