Carl Roberts 
“Coyote Vs Acme is a complete riot. Brilliant comedy from start to finish, with a heartwarming climax; it’s a real Looney time at the movies.”
Thank you, movie gods! I was looking forward to the release of Coyote Vs Acme back in 2023. Until Warner Bros. canceled the film’s release, intending it to be a tax write-off. Thankfully, they reversed their decision and shopped the film out to other companies. Ketchup Entertainment acquired the rights in the same vein as they did with The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. And now, three years after it should have been in cinemas, it is here. We’re thrilled that the film wasn’t deleted. With all the buzz about it being brought back to life, will it bring on some looney moments at the movies, or should it have stayed locked away?
THE PREMISE
After Acme products fail him one too many times in his dogged pursuit of the Roadrunner, Wile E. Coyote decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation.
THOUGHTS
The film is glorious! A real return to the classic Looney Tunes we grew up with. Of course, it is outlandish, but that doesn’t matter. This is what we all needed: a no-nonsense, rip-roaring, completely hilarious, and brilliant comedic movie that brings us back to our childhoods. While Who Framed Roger Rabbit? may have done it first, but this is so much better; The real deal. I haven’t laughed as much and as loudly in ages; I ended up crying with laughter, and I wasn’t the only one. It has been a long time since I’ve been part of an audience that has had such a great time with a movie. And none of us wanted it to end.
The cast is human, but our focus isn’t on them. We are here for the Looney Tunes, and we get exactly what we want. A long line of the classic characters are here, some in cameo appearances (Yosemite Sam, Sylvester, Porky Pig, etc), but the rest all make themselves and their presence felt throughout. Even with the use of some of the classic cartoon footage to accentuate what we experience, the film is original enough to blow us away. Additionally, throw some of the classic tropes into a modern setting and movie. You have something that deserves to be showcased repeatedly. And having the name of the law firm as Avery, Jones & Maltese is a masterstroke, one that has us fans laughing out loud.
THE HUMAN CAST
The human cast of the film wisely gets in on the fun, proving that they too are Looney Tunes fans deep down. Will Forte as Kevin Avery, a down-and-out billboard attorney who becomes Wile E. Coyote’s lawyer, is the main focus of them all. And he has fun throughout. Forte takes what he has been given, gets to grips with what he needs to do, and runs with it, delivering a well-tuned comedic performance throughout. Lana Condor as Paige Avery, Kevin’s niece, also resonates with the audience, bringing a grounding influence to the madcap proceedings. Together, both Forte and Lana Condor make for a great team, playing off each other to perfection. The perfect straight people to the cartoon characters antics.
JOHN CENA
John Cena as Buddy Crane, the Acme Corporation’s lawyer, also gets in on the fun, but not as much as you think. Cena gets around twenty minutes on screen, playing a smaller supporting role than we would have thought. But he allows himself to go with the flow, acting like a slimy, evil, heartless lawyer with Foghorn Leghorn as his boss (no, really) and Tweety Pie as his secret informant. At no time does Cena have us believe he’s not in on the fun and is having the time of his life. He plays it straight, even though some of what he does in the film should. by rights, have him roaring with laughter with us. Cena is the perfect foil here, all charm and grace but with a nasty side to him. We hope he gets his comeuppance by the time the film ends.
THE LOONEY TUNES
We, of course, are here for the Looney Tunes and all their antics. And, for the most part, we get what we came for. With Wile E. Coyote front and center throughout, it’s left to the other characters to fit in where they can. While Foghorn Leghorn is the big boss of Acme, we get Daffy Duck as his usual wacky self in an insane asylum. Bugs Bunny is the secretive whistleblower who hands Kevin and Paige (as well as Granny, yes, she’s here too) the evidence they so desperately require. Porky Pig, Yosemite Sam, Pepe Le Pew, and others get cameo appearances, as do other characters from Looney Tunes cartoons through the years. And the film wouldn’t be the same without Wile E’s partner, Roadrunner. All play a huge part in making the film as fun as it is.
BEHIND THE CAMERAS
Directed by Dave Green, written by Samy Burch from a story by James Gunn, Jeremy Slater, and Burch, the film is the perfect movie to sit down with and enjoy. Together, they have created a brilliant and hilarious live-action/ animation hybrid, but have paid tribute to all those cartoons we fell in love with back in the day. It is a real love letter to those younger days when we sat in front of the TV, or even saw some of them at the movies, and had a whale of a time. However, they pull out a masterstroke, one that leaves us with a lump in our throats. No spoilers, but it is a heartfelt and moving moment where everything is put into perspective. And this is what the film contains from start to finish: a real beating heart beneath the mayhem.
VERDICT
Coyote Vs Acme is a complete riot. A brilliant comedy from start to finish, with a heartwarming climax; it’s a real Looney time at the movies. While some younger children may not get the gist of everything or understand the characters and why we are laughing so much, the rest of us will be grabbing the tissues to stem the flow of tears of laughter, holding our sides before they burst. It feels like it’s been years since the characters have been allowed to thrive and entertain us this much. Of course, we can’t help but wet ourselves laughing at those classic Wile E. Coyote moments where the traps he sets to catch Roadrunner all fail. But again, the film pulls off a masterstroke by using the same crashing sound effect we heard in those classic cartoons, dragging us back to our childhoods.
To think the film wasn’t going to see the light of day, to be deleted or locked away in a vault and forgotten, shocks us. THIS is classic Looney Tunes through and through, and deserves to be seen on the big screen. Whoever decided the film should be a tax write-off deserves to be strapped to an Acme rocket and launched to their doom (come on, even when it goes wrong, the characters still get up and walk away!); that’s how wrong their decision was. Thankfully, common sense has prevailed, and we are finally allowed to see the film for ourselves.
A TRUE TESTAMENT
It is a true testament to those (including ourselves here) who went to bat for the film, writing letters, holding up banners, etc, and the credits thank us for supporting the film and getting it released. Were our efforts worth it? Yes, they were. Was the wait worth it? 100%. Will you get a dump truck full of fun and laughter with the film? Absolutely. Make no mistake, Looney Tunes is back in a big way, and where it belongs: on the big screen. Strap yourselves into your Acme rocket skates, grab your catapult, and prepare to laugh yourselves silly. Coyote Vs Acme is the real deal. That’s not all, Folks!!
Coyote Vs Acme is in cinemas now with preview screenings and will be released fully on August 28th, courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment and Altitude.
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.
