Category: Reviews

Synopsis

For decades, the tenacious Wile E. Coyote has tried and failed numerous times to catch the Road Runner using Acme products. He's on the verge of giving up when he sees an ad for the Avery, Jones, and Maltese law firm. Its spokesperson, senior partner Kevin Avery (Will Forte), claims they can help victims of cartoon violence sue the Acme Corporation. However, Avery often settles for a small amount of money rather than go to trial and risk losing. Acme's lawyer, Buddy Crane (Jon Cena), proposes a $50,000 settlement, which Avery agrees to, but Coyote rejects. With a trial underway, Avery's headstrong niece/intern, Paige (Lana Condor), convinces him to collect evidence and take on Acme. Their findings uncover a deeper conspiracy, which Acme CEO Foghorn Leghorn demands that Crane stop them at any cost. Will Acme sweep the trial, or will Wile E. Coyote finally see justice served?

Review

It's a tragedy that Warner Bros. tried to bury Coyote vs. Acme, especially given how excellent the movie is. While I'm glad the film is finally seeing the light of day, this shouldn't happen to any movie ever again. A fully completed film was shelved and almost deleted just so a soulless studio could get a quick tax write-off. That said, this film blends live-action and animation brilliantly, on par with Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Though Robert Zemeckis' 1988 classic is the gold standard, Dave Green's effort is the closest anyone's come to replicating it. You can tell the team behind this reveres Looney Tunes and the work of Termite Terrace. Not only are there deep-cut references sprinkled throughout, but there are tons of great slapstick gags and irreverent humor. Thankfully, the film isn't obnoxious about the references, and it doesn't try to explain them to the audience.

Will Forte does a great job as the human lead, playing the straight man against Wile E. Coyote's cartoony antics. He goes through a tremendous arc, going from just settling to putting in the effort to try and take risks. Lana Condor is also excellent as Avery's bright-eyed, eager niece, pushing him to try instead of settling for less. John Cena steals the show as a purely evil lawyer willing to kill to ensure Acme succeeds in the trial. Other standouts include Luis Guzman as a no-nonsense judge and P. J. Byrne as Crane's weasely second-in-command. Eric Bauza does an excellent job voicing all the major Looney Tunes characters, continuing the late Mel Blanc's legacy. The film also features fellow voice actors Candi Milo, Jim Cummings, and Fred Tatasciore, each delivering a memorable performance. All in all, everyone delivers 100% and is clearly having a blast in the movie.

Not only is this a great comedy with tons of laugh-out-loud gags, but there's also a surprising amount of heart. Between the cartoony shenanigans, there are sincere moments that feel earned rather than forced, especially between Avery and Coyote. Thankfully, these more serious scenes never conflict with the overall tone, unlike some other comedies that try injecting drama. The 3D cel-shaded animation is solid, mixing more traditional elements with modern sensibilities to make the Looney Tunes feel alive. Admittedly, some shots of the 3D models look awkward, especially when they face forward or sideways. Personally, I would've gone for a style more like The Day the Earth Blew Up, but that's entirely subjective. At an hour and 43 minutes, the pacing is solid, and the film breezes by without feeling rushed. Overall, Coyote vs. Acme is a love letter to classic animation that deserves to be seen.

Coyote vs. Acme is in theaters.