Coyote vs. Acme almost didn’t see the light of day. The film, which was due for a summer 2023 release date, was shelved by Warner Brothers. Instead of putting the money into marketing and distributing the final product, they thought claiming it as a tax loss would be the better option. After much backlash, the filmmakers were allowed to shop it to other distributors. Now, three years later, fans are seeing the final product the way it was always meant to be seen.
Fans of the Looney Tunes are aware of Mr. Coyote and his never-ending pursuit of the Road Runner. Acme Corporation are behind the products that Wil E. Coyote has used throughout the years and each time they have failed him. Fed up of always losing, he hires human attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte) who has been down on his own luck as of late. Avery needs a win. Known for settling most cases, once he discovers that his former boss and classmate Buddy Crane (John Cena) is representing Acme, Avery knows that this is his chance to step up to bring a voice to the underdog.
The premise is actually quite unique. Taking place in a world where cartoons and humans live in harmony, it is reminiscent of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Space Jam. I liked how there was no introduction as to why this was, it just was the case from the get go. Although we have seen this before, I still didn’t really know what to expect going into it. Luckily for me, the interactions between the toons and the cast were seamless.
While this is very much Wil E. Coyote’s film, other fan favorite toons are featured too. Seeing the likes of Tweety, Daffy, Bugs Bunny and Foghorn Leghorn on the big screen again felt like I’d been transported back in time to my childhood. These are characters I grew up with and being reunited with them was like coming home. The toons were obviously a huge part of this, but I can’t forget to mention the human cast too. Forte definitely had the awkward guy schtick down to a T and while that worked for the role, I grew tired of it quickly. Lana Condor starred as Paige, Kevin’s niece. The sunshine to Forte’s grumpy, they balanced each other well. Cena was having a blast as the antagonist lawyer while Tone Bell, Martha Kelly and Luis Guzman who portrayed Sal Maltese, Dottie Jones and Judge Troppogrosso, made the most of their smaller roles.
I’m glad that Coyote vs Acme was given the release it deserved. Blending animation and live action, the story touches on some important themes such as greed, capitalism and persistence. Members of the whole family will find something to enjoy about it making a fun outing.
Rating: ♥️♥️♥️
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