Coyote vs. Acme
Written by Cameron Geiser
Oh David Zaslav, how wrong you were to shelve this film as a tax write off. Thank the cinematic Gods that Ketchup Entertainment stepped in to pick up the film for distribution as Coyote vs. Acme is in cinemas now. Luckily, not only is it imperative to stand up to giant corporations and have finished films available to the public BUT it’s also actually a well made film. Yes, this wacky courtroom drama with a lead character that can’t speak actually has a few good surprises up its sleeve. Namely a solidly structured script, but also more heart and earnestness than you would expect from this looney adventure.
After decades of abuse by Acme products, one day Wile E. Coyote sees a Billboard Lawyer’s TV ad that claims the ability to take on the Acme corporation for dangerous products and negligence. So he makes his way into Albuquerque proper (yes, the film takes place in this oft referenced city in Looney Tunes lore) and sets up a meeting with Kevin Avery (Will Forte) of Avery, Jones, and Maltese. And if you get that reference, this movie’s comedy may be for you. In fact the more in tune you are with the cartoons the more you will get out of all the smaller comedic moments in the film but if you aren’t as familiar this doesn’t come across as detrimental in the least.
Unfortunately for Wile, Kevin has been so beaten down by his many failures and small time cartoon cases with no real traction that he only offers the Coyote a one product defective case for a small dollar payout. But as Coyote has never been one to give up easily he stuffs the evidence box full of hundreds upon hundreds of Acme’s Cartoon lineup products. Once the case hits Acme it makes headlines as the small time lawyer sues Acme for their entire catalog, which sets them up to take on the biggest corporation in this universe with no real sense of readiness or confidence. Making it even worse for Kevin is the fact that his old college bully Buddy Crane (John Cena) is Acme’s Bulldog lawyer on the case.
Coyote vs. Acme is oodles of fun and hilarity. How could this have been hidden from the public and almost killed as a tax write-off?
Not only does Coyote vs. Acme have good writing, deep Looney Tunes references, but truthfully it has far more heart and grit when it mattered than expected. Which was even juicier given the irony of the film’s anti-corporate messaging and Warner Bros actions over the past six years. There’s also a delightful mystery at the core of the film that adds some succinct flavors of Noir to the whole affair. I can’t say enough good things about this live-action blend with animated characters, it might not be better than Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, but it just might be the best of these films since that landmark achievement of Cartoon cinema. If you care about the state of Hollywood, head out to the theatre and watch this film! It may not change anything overnight, but it would surely send a message in the only format that executives care about: money.
Cameron Geiser is an avid consumer of films and books about filmmakers. He'll watch any film at least once, and can usually be spotted at the annual Traverse City Film Festival in Northern Michigan. He also writes about film over at www.spacecortezwrites.com.