Film Looney Tunes: Back in Action Review.
Looney Tunes: Back In Action was the second major attempt by Warner Bros. to revive the Looney Tunes franchise outside of merchandising, but ended up being a major box office flop, while the Looney Tunes Golden Collections, released around the same time, went on to sell over 900 million copies worldwide. Most fans quickly claim that the films failure was due to underpromotion, similar to Warners' The Iron Giant, but i think there's a whole 'nother reason this film failed:
It's just not a good movie.
The plot shoehorns Bugs and Daffy into a horribly unfunny spy plot, with lots of slapstick and cartoony stuff thrown in—however, unlike the old Looney Tunes, which were controlled, well timed, looked and sounded great, and were funny and appealing and actually had characterization, these gags just come off as self-conscious, forced, tired, grating misunderstandings of the comedy of the original Looney Tunes shorts. Like Space Jam, the animation is blended with live action and as a result has that butt ugly, muddy airbrush shading slapped onto it "to make it realistic." But the drawings themselves are so sloppy and weightless in the first place (unlike the old shorts) that even good coloring wouldn't have salvaged them. The music is an obnoxious, forgettable attempt to imitate Carl Stalling's classic musical scores, but misses the whole point as to what made them so great. The human characters are annoying and their attempts at funny acting are forced and unfunny.
It seems like poetic justice that the classic Looney Tunes DV Ds sold like hotcakes with diamonds studded in them, while this forgettable, best forgetton travesty is left rotting away on many a bargain bin DVD store. Good riddance i say. The originals are enough for me.
Rating: 3/10
Film Quite enjoyable
The looney tunes themselves are quite spot on with their characterization, there are lots of characters used, and Bugs and Daffy actually do have impact on the plot with keeping away the card and wrecking the satellite weapon. The human leads are boring but they make excellent straightmen to the ton's antics. The Acme chairman is wacky and over the top and ends up being the only one affected by his master plan's weapon.
I say its not a bad film.