By Nigel Armstrong

Dave Green’s ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ brings back iconic Looney Tunes characters in their full glory, following Wile E. Coyote who decides to sue Acme, the company responsible for all of Coyote’s malfunctioning gadgets used in attempts to catch the Road Runner. The film marks the third-highest-grossing Looney Tunes film of all time, grossing over 100 million globally.

Originally set to release in 2023, the film was shelved by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off. After public backlash and outrage demanding the film make a full theatrical release, the creatives were given the chance to seek other distributors for the film. Ketchup Entertainment acquired the distribution rights with the film finally being able to make it to the big screen this past summer.

Green created a seamless spiritual successor to “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” with the film’s hybrid of live action and animation. Whether it is real actors interacting with fictional cartoon characters or a real hand picking up a cartoon hammer, there is a seamless blend between the two. It is done in a believable way as cartoon characters realistically and effortlessly interact with our real world, giving off the idea that it’s normal, and the film really sells that.

The film manages to capture the essence, in terms of humor and style, of the original Looney Tunes show. From pianos falling randomly from the sky to random explosives, the film features several references and callbacks to these original stories, being faithful to the classic characters, especially with the several character appearances and cameos from the beloved show. It’s almost like you’re watching something straight out of the original, like being able to see Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner in the desert and failing to catch him.

It’s not an expectation to get emotional over a cartoon coyote and a bird, but the film surprises you by creating touching moments between its characters that resonate with audiences. The way the film develops these relationships between characters, as well as the characters individually, is something that is done very well in having something people can relate to and enjoy watching.

Overall, “Coyote vs. Acme” is a funny, enjoyable, emotional and ridiculous (but in the best way possible) ride of a film that manages to go back to the 1930s and honor what came before, while simultaneously creating something new and unique for all ages to enjoy.