Coyote vs. Acmemay not ever see the light of day over at Warner Bros., but the newLooney Tunesmovie certainly reminds fans of what could have been. Hitting theaters today,The Day the Earth Blew Upis a fully animated treasure trove of laughs that takes us back to the golden age of the franchise with both its animation style and the zany antics seen throughout. Kids will love it, parents will no doubt see it as a trip down memory lane, and critics? Well,they seem to be almost unanimousthanks to the film’s recently revealed Rotten Tomatoes score.
Currently sitting at 87% at the time of this writing, Frank Scheck from The Hollywood Reporter callsThe Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie"a consistent pleasure that should delight youngsters as well as nostalgic adults." Ben Gibbons from Screen Rant adds that it’s “one of the most creative and fun offerings fromThe Looney Tunesin years, with genre-bending fun for the whole family.” Noted Canadian critic Richard Crouse had much the same to say in his assessment, commenting:
“Jam packed with jokes, sight gags and the well-worn friendship between Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie creates a world for the characters that should please old fans and get new viewers up to speed.”
Looney Tunes Movie Director Praises Physical Media After Boomerang Shutdown
With Warner Brothers cutting down one of the last havens for classic cartoons, director Pete Browngardt offers his opinion: keep the discs around.
Indeed, fans of the oldLooney Tunescartoons have a lot to be excited about inThe Day the Earth Blew Up, especially when it comes to the main characters. Focusing on Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, the animated feature sees them attempting to save Earth from an alien scheme while trying not to drive each other crazy. Acclaimed voice actor Eric Bauza does double duty as both Daffy and Porky, with Candi Milo providing the voice of Petunia Pig, and Peter MacNicol as The Invader.
‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’ Is a First for the ‘Looney Tunes’ Franchise
In the past,Looney Tunesfilms have largely been parodies of other properties, or at least incorporated elements from pop culture that work to blend into the overall story. Such is not the case withThe Day the Earth Blew Up, as it’s the firsttheatrically released animated featurein the franchise that’s based entirely on original material. It’s a big gamble to mess with a tried and true formula – especially with the theatrical film – but director Pete Browngardt handles things with a deft hand, and the results pay off big time.
Ross Bonaime from Collider saysThe Day the Earth Blew Up"shows just how much life there still is in these characters and this world, and that they’re malleable enough to continue providing entertainment to every generation," while Tom O’Brien from Next Best Picture adds:
“Unlike other recent animation films that strain to include pop culture references or sneering put-downs, the humor of The Day the Earth Blew Up captures the essence of what made those classic cartoons so funny.”
Of course, the film is not without its flaws, but the good seems to outweigh the bad here, which bodes well for future animated projects. You can judge for yourself ifThe Day the Earth Blew Upis a worthy entry in theLooney Tunesfranchise, as it’s now playing in theaters nationwide. Check out our interview with Browngardt above, where he discusses everything that went into bringing the new adventure to life.
