"COYOTE VS. ACME" - REVIEW

Sometimes, the joy comes from the chase.

Like many of a certain age, I grew up on Looney Tunes. If I could point a few different things that were foundational to my sense of humor, Looney Tunes would be chief among them (tied with Gary Larson’s The Far Side).

One of my favorite movies growing up was 1979’s THE BUGS BUNNY ROAD RUNNER MOVIE, a theatrical feature comprised of many of the greatest Looney Tunes shorts, with some added interstitials of Bugs Bunny from his “humble abode” (aka decadent megamansion), humorously pontificating about the legends who created this incredible body at work, like Mike Maltese, Tex Avery, and of course, the inimitable Chuck Jones. Bugs also gives us a primer throughout on many beloved characters (followed by some of their most popular animated outings), while also educating us about how cinema was invented for chases (the film was briefly released under the title THE GREAT AMERICAN CHASE). The film runs about 98 minutes. Here’s an amazing poster, and I highly recommend this movie.

While I enjoy the whole film (one of the repeat VHS tapes of my youth along with ALADDIN, THE FUGITIVE, and MRS. DOUBTFIRE— and yes, I still own this VHS), they save the very best for the last 20 minutes: the greatest of American chases between one Road Runner (digoutius-unbelieveablii) and his patient pursuer, one Wile E. Coyote (eatius-slobbius).

Big screen Looney Tunes was never better than that. There have been several attempts at a WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT blend of live action and animated hijinx since then (like the was–it–great–or–were–you–eight Michael Jordan vehicle SPACE JAM, its 2011 LeBron James–led sequel SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY, and Joe Dante‘s not-that-bad Brendan Fraser/Jenna Elfman/Steve Martin starrer LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION), but without the wit, heart, and zest of the original shorts.

So imagine my delight with the announcement of a new live action/animated Looney Tunes movie with the most high concept title, starring Will Forte as a Jimmy McGill-esque ambulance chaser representing the super genius himself against one of the most powerful corporations in the world!

And now imagine that it’s 2023, and that movie is complete, and it tests through the roof. The people who made it loved the experience of making it as well as the finished film!

And then imagine that Warner Bros., the studio that owns Looney Tunes and paid for the movie, made a decision the day after the movie was screened to permanently shelve it and collect a tax write-off instead.

In the words of Daffy Duck being toyed with by the animator of Duck Amuck, “who is responsible for this?! I demand to know!“ And the “ain’t-I-a-stinker” animator in this case is revealed to be WB head honcho David Zaslav. First you lose Christopher Nolan and now this?! For shame, Doc.

And now… imagine a community so vocal in their protest that their voices rise up and rescue this movie, and thanks to Ketchup Entertainment (who also released 2025’s fully animated Looney Tunes outing THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP), this coyote finally has his day in court!

And now, imagine the movie itself is actually great.

Well… you don’t have to imagine it. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, exhibit A: COYOTE VS. ACME is an absolute gas.

If you love big-screen legal thrillers and dramas like ERIN BROCKOVICH, ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN, THE INSIDER or MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON but felt they could be much zanier, this has something for everyone, whether you are five years old or 95 years old. The sharp screenplay by Samy Burch (MAY DECEMBER, LATE FAME) dang-near captures the spirit of the beloved originals, and it is lovingly rendered in three-dimensions-AND-two-dimensions by director Dave Green (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS).

As Kevin Avery of the Albuquerque law firm of Avery, Jones and Maltese (wink wink), Will Forte was born to play Wile E. Coyote’s lawyer. Lana Condor shines as Forte’s plucky Oxford-grad niece who shoves him into action. John Cena continues to impress as ACME’s top shark-in-a-suit. Wile E. Coyote plays himself: his starving, bedraggled, tenacious self, determined to take down the megacorporation that stymies his Sisyphean efforts time and time again.

Will Coyote win the day? Will he at least catch that blasted Road Runner after all these years? Does it matter? Isn’t it all about the chase? Will you be surprised by the possible tear in your eye?

Yes. And, just like with the law, sometimes it is about the result. This story has a happy evening. A great movie—the best of the Looney Tunes theatrical movies—was saved from obscurity, and gets to exist. Whether COYOTE VS. ACME was a box office hit or not (and happily, it has now grossed its production budget and the write-off amount), we can see the hard work and the love everyone in front of and behind the camera put into it. Not only their love, but the love of the audience who championed the film, sight unseen. I was traveling on the weekend of the film’s release so I’m a bit late to this one, but I took my family to see it in its third weekend in a movie theater, which is still showing it at least three times a day. We loved it. We’ll be buying the disc when it comes out.

(L to R) Movie Friend, Ray, Maya and my amazing wife of almost 20 years Kia.

At the end of the closing credits is a card that reads “Dedicated to everyone who posted, shared, held up signs, and spoke out when it counted. This film made it to the big screen because of you.”

The chase was worth it.

#moviefriend

@coyotevsacme

#willforte

#lanacondor

#johncena

@ketchupentertainment

@looneytunes

@emaginenorth

@mncritics

Zach is a proud member of the Minnesota Film Critics Association (MNFCA). For more info about Zach, the organization, or to read other great reviews from other great Minnesota-based film critics, click here: www.mnfca.com