Carl Roberts 
“While not in the same class as the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is still a delightful animated comedy.”
It is well known that I completely adore Looney Tunes. There is nothing better than sitting back alone, putting on some classic Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons and laughing myself silly. Two of my favourites are still The Bugs Bunny/ Roadrunner Movie and The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie. Perhaps that’s why I find it strange to watch the more modern cartoons and movies featuring those characters. Oh sure, they are good and often hilarious. However, they can’t match the original cartoons. Perhaps it’s an age thing. I don’t know. When I sat down to watch The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, I got those same feelings. The film can’t match the classics. But it is still a hilarious, crazy, enjoyable movie nonetheless.
THE PREMISE
Porky and Daffy, the classic animated odd couple, turn into unlikely heroes when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. Against all odds, the two are determined to save their town (and the world!)…that is if they don’t drive each other crazy in the process. To save the world, they’ll have to stick together.
THOUGHTS
The film, despite not being in the same league as the classics, does more than enough to keep audiences young and old completely entertained throughout. The heart of Looney Tunes is all there on the screen. There are some classic throwbacks to what’s gone before. The craziness of Daffy Duck and the stuttering monologues of Porky Pig are in abundance. One comic piece shows us exactly how Porky got his stammer. It answers the question of why he has it. Daffy has his giant mallet (wooden hammer) throughout. He brings it into play in some hilarious scenes. While there are some brilliant nods to popular culture, there is also a knowing wink at the audience. Still, it’s all good fun.
No matter where you look, everything that is needed to make a great Looney Tunes movie is there. So, why doesn’t it resonate more with me? Again, it’s to do with comparing the classics with the modern. While the animation style suits today’s audiences, it feels off to those of us who adore those brilliant cartoons from yesteryear. Instead of hand-drawn animation, it is all done on computers nowadays. While it still looks good, it takes some of the fun out of the film. However, it has enough heart to keep even the die-hard fans happy. And no matter what flaws I could find with the movie, it still had me crying and shrieking with laughter. Also, the use of the classic ‘Merry Go Round Broke Down’ theme permeates the musical score throughout.
THE STYLE
The style the film goes for is brilliant. Throughout, it reminded me of those 1950s B-movie science fiction films. It also feels, at times, as if the animators and creators have taken inspiration from some of the classic Looney Tunes cartoons of that era and used them to bring the film to life. Even one of the alien creatures looks and feels like a throwback to the 1950s. In that respect, they have succeeded. It is a highpoint the film hammers home from every angle.
It is during these moments that we feel more at home than we do in others. Again, the modern feel to the movie takes classic fans out of the film at times. However, there are some moments that don’t draw us back; they literally drag us back. These moments make us become more invested in the film as it goes along. And that is a good thing, as there is much to like and enjoy here.
THE VOCAL PERFORMANCES
The vocal performances are pitch-perfect. Eric Bauza as Daffy Duck and Porky Pig is perfect, bringing the pair to life expertly again. For the most part, as it should be, we can’t really tell the difference between his vocal performances as the pair and the legendary Mel Blanc. After all, that is the highest compliment anyone can pay to Bauza: his ability to make us think it is still Blanc voicing the two characters, instead of taking over from the late master. We shouldn’t be surprised by this. Bauza has also given his voice to other classic cartoon characters we know and love. And he is lending his voice to several Looney Tunes characters in the upcoming Coyote vs. Acme, due in cinemas later this year.
Candi Milo, as Petunia Pig, delivers a sweet, energetic vocal performance as Porky’s love interest. Her tiones play perfectly against Bauza’s, making the pair of them (or three if you count the main characters they voice) a winning combination. Fred Tatasciore as Farmer Jim and The Scientist is equally as good. He brings his two characters to life. Even though, for the most part, all The Scientist says is ‘Choo!’. His vocalisations as Farmer Jim are winning by themselves, making us love and enjoy the briefly seen character.
Peter MacNicol as The Invader gives a spirited and hilarious vocal performance, making the villain of the film creepy, menacing, but ultimately brilliant comedic value. With contributions from Laraine Newman as Mrs Grecht and Wayne Knight as the Mayor of Grandview added to the vocal cast, there’s nothing more we could ask for from them. They give us characters that we can’t help but adore.
VERDICT
While not in the same class as the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is still a delightful animated comedy. It is miles better than it has any right to be. It is certainly much better than some of those modern reinterpretations of classic cartoons that appear on TV or streaming services. Instead of being a cash grab or selling the audience short, it gives everyone a great time. The heart of the film is genuine, showing that the filmmakers wanted to recreate and somewhat recapture the magic of those classic days. While they can’t recapture the magic, they have done a brilliant job recreating it. It feels like a film made by fans for the fans. And in this respect, they have accomplished it.
Filmmakers who want to try to bring the Looney Tunes characters into the modern age should take note; you can’t capture lightning in a bottle. You can’t recapture the magic of those classics. But you should take a leaf out of director Pete Browngardt’s book. Alongside the many writers on the film, he has set out to make the best film he can, using Daffy and Porky to bring delight to viewers, young and old. In that respect, he has succeeded; the film is a delight to watch, to experience and to just have fun with. It will become a regular watch when it arrives on home entertainment for me. Despite some flaws, it deserves that and more. It is once again time to get Looney. And I’m all here for it!
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie will be in cinemas on February 13th, courtesy of Vertigo Releasing.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
