Coyote vs. Acme – Movie Review
There was an air of excitement and anticipation well before Coyote vs. Acme’s release. Not just because it was another recent return to the big screen for a lot of the beloved Looney Tunes characters, or because it was another chance for a Looney Tunes/real life actors hybrid to convert a new generation into fans (after the unfortunate flop that was Space Jam: A New Legacy).
But, the excitement stemmed from the fact that this movie even came out at all after the higher-ups at Warner Bros. studios – the original production company and distributor – decided in 2023 for “tax reasons” to deny a fully completed film its deserved release. But almost two and a half years later, with a large push from devoted fans and people who think it’s entirely wrong for a large media corporation to simply shelve a piece of art to save its shareholders a few bucks, Coyote vs. Acme arrived in cinemas thanks to Ketchup Entertainment. Was the fight to release this movie worth it? Absolutely.
Coyote vs. Acme centres around the chaotic and often violent relationship between Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner (both voiced by Eric Bauza, who voices a large portion of the characters seen in this film), who for decades have been at odds with each other as Wile E. Coyote dedicates his life to (unsuccessfully) trying to catch Road Runner as he endlessly psychologically tortures his unsuccessful captor. Not only is Wile E. disheartened by his failures, he is also constantly severely injured and maimed by the Acme products he uses to create the booby traps that backfire on him.
After seeing a television ad from personal injury lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte), Wile. E takes his chance at sticking it to the company who has caused him pain over the decades by suing the Acme Corporation. But this doesn’t necessarily sit well with Kevin, who traditionally likes to settle for an easy pay day, until he is pushed by his niece and intern Paige (Lana Condor) to take a risk for justice. However, as they begin to feel the pushback of their actions, the unlikely team begin to discover a much larger and more malicious web of conspiracies within Acme.
There is a sweet sense of irony that the movie that was hidden away by a giant corporation has a narrative centred around a giant corporation trying to cover up secrets, and a group of unlikely heroes working together for justice. And that just fuels this cheeky, finger-pointing nature of the political thriller/conspiracy film that is rooted at the core of this story. Taking inspiration from films like The Insider or A Few Good Men, director Dave Green and writer Samy Burch lean heavily into the tropes and niches of that genre to really add some legitimacy to the story, rather than just going for 100 minutes of Looney Tunes gags. It’s also very well executed because there are great moments of tension, shout-y courtroom scenes, and a surprisingly moving finale that is a great payoff, not just to this story, but to decades of Looney Tunes history involving Wile E. and Road Runner.
But the courtroom drama/conspiracy thriller aspects of the film never take away from the elements of the Looney Tunes that are most beloved – the absolute chaotic comedy. There are some hilarious bit parts and set pieces that harness the anarchic energy that naturally derives from these animated characters. Whether it’s in small cameos or larger roles in the story, each Looney Tunes character is perfectly matched to the “character” they have to play in this story, whether its Tasmanian Devil as Acme’s head of PR or Foghorn Leghorn as the CEO of Acme. Then you add on the comedic talent of Will Forte, and many other supporting roles like John Cena, P.J. Byrne, and Lana Condor, and the comedy just explodes onto every scene, especially because of how committed each performer is to the bit.
What truly stands out in the film, however, is the phenomenal blend of animation and real-life, which looks so dynamic and vibrant on the screen. The 2D animation of the Looney Tunes characters seamlessly interact with the real world around them, actors and locations alike. But, where the blend of the two really works best is the exciting and jaw-dropping action set pieces, specifically an exciting car chase, that genuinely feels thrilling, but adds in some wonderfully fun cartoon violence at the same time. Coyote vs. Acme looks brilliant in every way, and only exacerbates the craving for more films like this one.
There is zero evidence throughout Coyote vs. Acme that leans towards the idea that it should have ever been shelved by Warner Bros. But, regardless of its bumpy journey to the big screen, it’s wonderful to see a film that captures the energy of the beloved animated characters in a movie that is truly funny and surprisingly moving that can be enjoyed by Looney Tunes fans young and old.
Coyote vs. Acme is in Australian cinemas September 17
