If there’s one thing that’ll never get tiring, especially in this day and age, it’s a David and Goliath story. A narrative that rightfully focuses on the underdogs and delivers a hopeful ending where big corporations are finally caught for all the corruption they’ve time and again swept under the rug. And for Coyote vs. Acme, that idea is bigger than what we see throughout the movie. There’s no way we can ignore the film’s rise from its shelved ashes, and the legitimately encouraging statement that no film in Hollywood should ever be buried, no matter how awful it is.
Coyote vs Acme never needed to be some revolutionary comedy to deserve timeslots at the movie theaters. It didn’t need to have known stars attached to its name or the Looney Tunes to have merit. It just needed to be made. And that’s exactly what everyone involved did, giving us something genuinely hilarious in the process, too.
The story is simple, but it’s the execution that makes it so memorable. It starts with a flashback of scientist Dr. Peter Lorre leaving behind what seems to be critical information before he’s essentially lured to an underground bunker. We cut to Wile E. Coyote on his never-ending quest to catch the Road Runner before another failed attempt and an ad on TV force him to reevaluate his plans, deciding to sue Acme with the help of personal injury attorneys at Avery, Jones & Maltese.
Enter Will Forte, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Luis Guzmán, Martha Kelly, P.J. Byrne, Eric Bauza, Kenneth Choi, and John Cena alongside voice actors for the Looney Tunes in a sharp back-and-forth that’s as uproarious as it is heartfelt. Condor’s Paige being an optimistic foil to Forte’s pessimistic and hopeless Kevin sells the crux of the story, but the shining moment naturally comes down to the rivalry between Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. If there’s one scene that’s bound to bring the tears, it’s an unexpected courtroom moment brimming with immense heart.
I’m a big fan of Space Jam and have always adored every version of the Looney Tunes we’ve gotten, so I know I’m technically the target audience here. Still, there’s something indescribably poignant about the film’s means of addressing the maliciousness of a capitalist society that sticks the landing for audiences everywhere. The live-action animation provides solid entertainment, yes, but it’s also thought-provoking in a way that ensures the win at the end feels earned.
One thing about this type of filmmaking is that it isn’t easy. To effortlessly morph the two different mediums and allow them to feel believable, directors, writers, and actors are required to do a lot more work than we can imagine. With a sharp screenplay from Samy Burch and incredible directing from Dave Green, there’s a lot to appreciate about the end result. Pair the visuals with actors who aren’t afraid of getting a little weird, and it’s a gift to sit in a theater and watch Coyote vs. Acme after everything it’s been through.
Coyote vs. Acme is now playing exclusively in theaters.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Ketchup Entertainment