Coyote vs. Acme
review by Bobby Blakey
Over the last few years there have been films getting shelved for tax purposes, most notably the complete but never-released Batgirl film. Then came word that the latest Looney Tunes animated live action hybrid Coyote vs Acme was getting shelved as well and the anger took over the internet. Thankfully the decision was reversed and Ketchup Entertainment stepped in and the film starring Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, Wile E. Coyote, and Road Runner from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows director Dave Green at the helm. Could this latest entry into the Looney Tunes franchise be worth saving or will it fail to get convicted?
Coyote vs Acme follows After decades of being blown to bits by bombs, demolished by dynamite, mangled by magnets, battered by boulders, trampled by trains, tricked by tunnels, sprung by springs, steamrolled by steamrollers, maligned by misfires, bedeviled by bungees, rattled by rockets, backstabbed by bat suits, rocked by rocket skates, upended by unicycles, quaked by quake pills, rubberized by rogue bands, and hurled headlong off every cliff in the Southwest, Wile E. Coyote (Genius) finally fights back. Teaming up with billboard accident lawyer Kevin Avery, he takes on slick corporate counsel Buddy Crane and ACME, Inc., the profit-obsessed conglomerate behind every one of the Coyote’s chaotic catastrophes.
Animated live action blended films have had a rocky journey with some being pure brilliance and others just annoying trash. This film had a lot to live up to due to not only the type of film, but also the controversy about it almost being shelved. Walking in I had high hopes, especially hearing so many great things about it and I was thankfully not disappointed. The film leans all into its courtroom drama with it even letting the viewer know it is based on a true story that just further lends to its brilliance.
The story is based on a 1996 article from humor writer Ian Frazier and makes total sense to any of us that have ever watched these cartoons. Every character in the Looney Tunes universe was affected by Acme, but none like Wile E. Coyote. The film drops us right into the mystery and scandal with the revelation of tests within Acme and its attempted whistle blower which is the return of one of my all-time obscure real-life characters in animated form. (It will make sense to those that know when they see him). It instantly let me know they were going all in, and I was here for it.
From there we get to spend some time with Coyote vs. Road Runner in some fun classic chases and disasters complete with getting an inside look at Wile E.’s inner sanctum of plans. Once he sees the TV advertisement for the lawyer it steps out of the usual antics and right into the story at hand. Throughout the film it plays like any usual court room drama as they look for evidence, court room elements and solving the mystery of the case all while the insanity of the carton world is on full display. It is reminiscent of films like Roger Rabbit (and could take place in the same universe) where they all live in harmony and it works. I was concerned they would try to force a voice onto Wile E. Coyote to make it easier to work, but thankfully they do not and play up the sign communication for some laughs and emotion.
The cast are all great and the whole library of Looney Tunes characters are well used in various ways, not expected but works perfectly for the film. This is a genius idea that takes the iconic nature of what we all grew up with in this animated universe and created something for the adults to enjoy like an evolution of what we’ve been through. While this is clearly for an older audience it still works for those that have never seen any of these cartoons but will surely lose the deeper lore and fun without knowing it.
I had a great time with his film and was so glad it got the release it deserved. It’s capturing a type of film we don’t get enough of in a way that really slams it home in every way. Do yourself a favor whether you are a fan of the Looney Tunes or not check out Coyote vs Acme in theaters now from Ketchup Entertainment.