Coyote vs. ACME
Writers: Samy Burch (screenplay); James Gunn, Jeremy Slater, Burch (story); based on Coyote vs. Acme by Ian Frazier
Director: Dave Green
Cast: Will Forte, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, Luis Guzman, Martha Kelly, P.J. Byrne, Eric Bauza, Kenneth Choi, John Cena
Do you know what the best part is about Coyote vs. ACME? It’s that, after more than 70 years, we finally have an answer to one of the biggest questions in all of popular culture: What would happen if Wile E. Coyote simply sued the ACME Corporation for all of those defective products? Director Dave Green approaches this subject with slapstick antics and plenty of wit, and while it may not be as energetic or stylized as films like Space Jam or Looney Tunes: Back in Action, the final product is still pretty great.
After one too many failed attempts to catch the Road Runner, a quest he has been embroiled in since Chuck Jones’ Fast and Furry-ous was first released back in 1949, Wile E. Coyote packs his bags and heads for Albuquerque in search of Avery, Jones, and Maltese (a reference to three legendary animators). This small firm specializes in settling the grievances of cartoon characters, most against the all-powerful ACME Corporation. Wile E. meets with down-and-out senior partner Kevin Avery (Will Forte), looking to sue ACME for all of the various products that have backfired on him (rocket shoes, catapults, magnetic birdseed...) in his pursuit of the Road Runner. While Kevin’s niece Paige (Lana Condor) is eager to take the case, Kevin decides to do what he does best and settle. However, Wile E. rejects the offer made by ACME lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena), forcing a trial.
Not wanting any secrets to get out, ACME executive Foghorn Leghorn (Eric Bauza) puts the squeeze on Buddy, who is clearly more than a little uncomfortable dealing with the giant rooster. After a disastrous first trial session, overseen by the no-nonsense Judge Troppogrosso (Luis Guzmán), Kevin receives a tip from an anonymous whistle-blower who informs them about Project Sisyphus, a product testing program that used violence against cartoon characters to help improve ACME products for humans — products that were eventually released into the wild and tested on unsuspecting clients like Wile E. Coyote.
How will this affect the outcome of one of the largest corporate trials in cartoon history? Buy yourself a ticket, head to your nearest theatre, and find out!
Coyote vs. ACME is slick and silly, bursting with explosive humor and loads of heart. A spiritual successor to 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit, it flawlessly blends live-action with animation to create a visually stunning, self-aware package that successfully riffs on everything from Better Call Saul to Erin Brockovich. Plus, finally giving WB’s beloved desert dog his day in court is perhaps one of the most ingenious premises for a movie, one that longtime Looney Tunes fans have been waiting years to see — seriously, I’ve been pondering the outcome of such a trial since I was eight years old!
The human cast is great, with Will Forte’s Kevin providing an appropriate foil to Wile E. Coyote in the same way Bob Hoskins’ Eddie Valiant buoyed Roger Rabbit more than 30 years ago. Plus, say what you want about him as an actor, but John Cena commands every scene he’s in. Clearly, he had a blast, and it shows. And Lana Condor? Well, she’s just so delightful and does a great job as the level-headed voice of reason, pushing Forte’s rather reluctant character onto bigger and better things.
What’s also interesting is how closely the plot of Coyote vs. ACME mirrors the film’s real-life struggles behind the scenes, as little guy Ketchup Entertainment bravely jumped in to save this looney legal drama from oblivion — a poignant reminder to stand up for what’s right regardless of how high the odds may be stacked against you. Okay, maybe I’m reaching a little bit here, but you’ve got to admit, the similarities are more than a little uncanny!
In short, Coyote vs. ACME is a court-mandated masterpiece. Save for some odd pacing and rehashed gags, it’s smart, expertly executed, and packed with non-stop fun. Reshaping one of animation’s signature antagonists into one of the most lovable victims in courtroom history is sure to go down as a power move for the ages.
Thank you, Ketchup Entertainment, for saving this movie, for finally answering one of the biggest questions in all of popular culture, and for allowing the world to see that these characters remain as relevant now as they were back in 1949.
