Coyote vs. Acme

Tonight, my siblings and I went to see “Coyote vs. Acme,” which came out almost three weeks ago. This was one of my most anticipated movies to watch this year, seeing how I’m a huge Looney Tunes fan. Seeing how this has been getting rave reviews from critics, what was our opinion?

Family entertainment can have a habit of being dumbed down, like children are not meant to understand richer subtext. As we know, the point is that as a kid you’re entertained but then as an adult you understand the deeper meanings. “Coyote vs. Acme” begins with a brilliantly funny idea related to every gadget Looney Toon character, Willie E. Coyote, has ordered over the years out in the desert to try and catch the Road Runner. Alci Rengifo pointed out in his review, “As it gets wildly entertaining, the movie never loses its sharpness and even social commentary. Many viewers will first be intrigued by the backstory involving Warner Bros. initially shelving the movie back in 2023 for a tax write-off, then selling the rights to Ketchup Entertainment. We should be grateful someone stepped in to save this charming, witty experience.”

The film starts in 1992, when in a desolate laboratory, Dr. Peter Loore, voiced by pretty much all the major cartoon characters, Eric Bauza, a “toon,” is being chased by evil superiors trying to silence him. After he is forced to jump into one of the famous black holes that can be summoned in cartoons, we flash forward to present day where Willie E. Coyote is stuck in the same routine of chasing after the Road Runner, getting close, but failing miserably with the various Acme Corporation gadgets he keeps ordering. Sinking in depression, he sees a commercial from Albuquerque lawyer Kevin Avery, played by Will Forte, a human focusing in cases with cartoon violence. Willie E. Coyote sees the chance to sue Acme for the countless rockets and other items that have left him damaged from his attempts. Kevin would be fine just asking for his client to get $300 back for failed rocket skates, but Willie E. Coyote wants payment for everything we have seen him use over his time. This strikes a cord in Acme, which is run by the famous Foghorn Leghorn. His top human attorney, Buddy Crane, played by John Cena, who was once Kevin’s classmate at Harvard, is given coyote’s case to win it.

“Coyote vs. Acme” is one of those movies like “Space Jam” or “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” where it perfectly combines animation with live action, to the point where you stop differentiating the two. It tells you about the times we’re currently in where Warner almost made it disappear without a second thought. Rengifo said, “Director Dave Green works from a screenplay by Samy Burch, which is based on a 1990 New Yorker article by Ian Frazier, a delightful piece of satirical cheer. James Gunn is one of the producers, no doubt helping explain how this film finds a particular poignancy in Looney Toons characters. First the movie works as a funny form of self-commentary, pondering how Wile E. should logically have amassed football-size amounts of Acme gadgets. All this because of his obsessive drive to catch the Road Runner, apparently out of hunger, but maybe it’s just become a consuming passion the way other people thirst for power or explorers seek to climb great mountains.” Not like Willie E. Coyote couldn’t find anything else to eat.

A Looney Tunes movie needs to include fan favorites to show up like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tasmanian Devil, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, and others. Rengifo said, “None of them are used as just filler and become part of a rather intense detective yarn. Bugs Bunny leaves cryptic phone messages for Kevin and arranges late night meetings out of a Bogart thriller. Daffy knows something but is consigned to a mental health institution. Desert moments of intrigue are framed as if in homage to “Breaking Bad.” The humans are also not reduced to mere gags and turn into walking embodiments of ruthless corporate America.  John Cena’s Buddy Crane is the classic suit just doing his job, which entails going to any length to please his client. He slimily offers Kevin a quick settlement the underdog lawyer is eager to accept, but Wile E. instantly refuses.” Now it becomes an all-out fight. When Kevin tries to get the Road Runner to appear as a witness in Coyote’s defense, Buddy and his lawyer team then try any way to stop that from happening. The ongoing jokes are just Looney Tunes fun, like the plot to catch the Road Runner with a huge mountain of bird feed surrounded by instant glue.

Rengifo said, “Yet, what makes “Coyote vs. Acme” successful and a genuine treat for younger viewers is how it treats the audience, both younger and older, with intelligence. There are more layers to the story than just the court battle. Kevin must assess if the coyote is being honest with him, or using this whole case as a ruse to finally lure the Road Runner into a space of total entrapment.” On top of that, after all this time chasing each other in the desert, maybe Willie E. Coyote and the Road Runner have become close friends than they know? Rengifo said, “The movie features quite the stacked cast which also includes an endearing Lana Condor as Kevin’s niece and assistant, who tries to keep him honest as a lawyer, and Luis Guzmán as Judge Troppogrosso, overseeing the case with farcical seriousness. Yet, above the gags, we’re also taken in by the story and the upfront jabs at corporate culture. Wile E. may have a twisted passion, but Acme is run by the kind of shady figures who would be more than welcomed at the current White House.” In the end, the real heroes are Ketchup Entertainment for saving this film. As awful as the times are, there is someone out there who always cares, which is also the end, needed message of this enjoyable good time.

I think everyone should go see this movie, as this is one of the most entertaining, funny films this year. Especially those who are Looney Tunes fans will enjoy this one a lot. Seeing how they have shaped a lot of our humor; everyone must go and watch this. You will be laughing the whole time and really love this. If Ketchup Entertainment keeps coming out with Looney Tunes films every now and then, I will give them my money to see them. Check this out and have a great time laughing from start to finish.

Thank you for joining in on this review tonight. Stay tuned this Friday for the continuation of “Animated Environmental Movie Month.”