The Day the Earth Blew Up is the Right Kind of Looney
Image Courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment
By Luis Zonenberg
While it seems quite common now for many classic childhood franchises to be put through the wringer, none come close to the pain inflicted on the Looney Tunes brand. With the shelving of the Acme vs. Coyote movie and the removal of all the Looney Tunes cartoons on Max, it is painfully clear that the studio has lost all hope in them. Yet, we cling to hope as Ketchup Entertainment decided to release one of the other shelved projects titled, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes movie.
The movie focuses on Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both played by Eric Bauza) as they hop from job to hop in an effort to raise money to fix their broken roof. After a chance encounter with Petunia Pig (Candi Milo), both land a job working with her at a bubblegum factory. Things soon go awry when they learn of a fiendish plot to use the latest bubblegum flavor for a full-scale alien invasion which leads to all three characters teaming up to combat the alien threat in the most looney way possible!
I am so glad to see the film released as the story is a perfect match for these iconic characters. The film clearly takes inspiration from classic B-movies like the Blob or Invasion of the Body Snatchers, creating the ideal campy albeit wacky tone. Its simplistic storytelling and even heartwarming character moments show this is a true labor of love, with the traditional animation working well off it.
Speaking of the animation, it is absolutely gorgeous to look at! The nostalgia of seeing traditional 2D animation in this day and age is such a rush, matching well with the campy throwback tone of the film. The speed and vibrancy of the animation provide the perfect environment for these characters to do what they do best: be looney! It matches perfectly with the tone of the story, proving a throwback can still be fun now and again.
The voice acting here was absolutely incredible, with Eric Bauza stealing the show with a dual performance as Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. He has mastered making both characters sound so separate and distinct, that they do feel real and proves he has great chemistry with himself. Cindi Milo works well off Bauza, with a very charming and cute performance as the dorky Petunia Pig. Other supporting voice actors like Peter Macnicol and Fred Tatasciore also helped anchor the film as well.
This is definitely a family film, with jokes ready made for both children and adults. While it is far from being as mature as the Wild Robot, the film knows how iconic these characters are and how long their legacy has stretched over the generations. It knows when to throw laughable slapstick for the kids and some more campy grotesque humor for the adults, reminiscent of the Courage the Cowardly Dog series. The film strikes a good balance that should satiate families of all sizes.
It is worth noting that this is the first full-length animated Looney Tunes film and it’s even better knowing how good it is! The film is easily a throwback to the silly camp and charm of the early Looney Tunes shorts, with its traditional 2D animation help making it stand out amongst the crowd. With daffy energy and an absolutely looney story, the Day the Earth Blew Up proves these iconic characters are just as fun to watch as ever!
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is now playing in theaters.
Rating: ★★★★ ½
