Joey Magidson
Can you believe that we almost never got to see this film? I’m not going to get into the long and winding road that to Warner Bros. first shelving Coyote vs. Acme for tax purposes before eventually selling the rights to Ketchup Entertainment. The thing to focus on is that the movie exists, I’ve seen it, soon you all can, and it’s actually really good. That’s what is nuts about this whole thing. WB wasn’t hiding some unreleasable trash. This flicks is incredibly well done, very funny, and will delight Looney Tunes fans.
Coyote vs. Acme is, for my money, the best Looney Tunes related film since Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, as well as the best animation/live-action hybrid since then as well. The movie is a consistently witty delight, finding a lot of mileage from this high concept premise. Does the pacing wane a bit in the third act? Yes. However, it does manage to wrap up in a deeply satisfying manner, saving the day.
Set in a world where cartoon characters and humans co-exist, we drop in on Wile E. Coyote during yet another failed attempt to catch the Road Runner. Having had more ACME gadgets backfire on him, the Coyote is licking his wounds when he sees a television commercial for lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte). Kevin is a billboard attorney who specializes in quick accident settlements against ACME. Heading to Albuquerque, the Coyote meets with Kevin, who expects this to be another quick job. However, the Coyote instead wants to sue for every one of his catastrophes, blaming the company.
In over his head, Kevin is forced to face off against former law school classmate and high-powered ACME corporate counsel Buddy Crane (John Cena). The ACME conglomerate, led by Foghorn Leghorn, has all the money and all the influence, while Kevin has Paige (Lana Condor) and the Coyote’s refusal to let him quit. As they pursue this David vs. Goliath match, they begin to uncover a conspiracy, one helped along by some of their cartoon friends, while ACME will stop at nothing to end this, no matter the cost.
Will Forte leads the way here, with Wile E. Coyote actually having basically as much screen time, despite being silent. They end up with really fun chemistry, helped by Forte having the time of his life in essentially the Bob Hoskins role. John Cena knows the assignment here and is digging it, while Lana Condor provides solid support. I won’t spoil all of the cartoon cameos, but all of the expected characters show up (including Elmer Fudd as a Senator!), alongside some very fun surprises. Supporting players here include Tone Bell, P.J. Byrne, and more.
Director Dave Green is very comfortable blending animation and live action, while the screenplay from Samy Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater is far smarter than expected. They make the flick as clever as it is silly, balancing the satire and social commentary with all of the slapstick you’ve come to know and love from the Looney Tunes. Ultimately, Coyote vs. Acme is as much about friendship as it is about corporate greed, and balancing that helps to create a work that should please just about anyone. Now, with a runtime of about 103 minutes, it does feel long, especially as things slow down between a move from the courthouse to a Senate hearing, but that’s really the only complaint to be found here.
Folks, Coyote vs. Acme is not being overhyped by a crusade to shame WB. It’s just a really good film. It’s a blast, supremely entertaining, and capable of gluing a smile to your face. That the movie defied incredible odds to being a giant cooperation is only icing on the cake, while being incredibly ironic, given the material contained within. I’m delighted I got to see it and I’m thrilled you all will too when it opens later on this month.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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