Coyote vs. Acme hit theaters on Aug. 28 and was immediately met with rave reviews. The animated blockbuster features a fusion of hilarious on-screen gags and wicked comedy writing, a knockout cast, and a heart-driven plot, all backed by a behind-the-scenes story that is nothing short of inspiring.
“One must imagine Sisyphus happy”
Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus (1942)
Summary
Coyote vs. Acme, directed by Dave Green, follows the journey of Wile E. Coyote. Feeling defeated as he fails to catch the Road Runner time and time again, he travels to Albuquerque to work with down-and-out lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte) to sue mega-corporation Acme for their faulty cartoon product line.
The story is that of a classic showdown between the underdog and a goliath corporate giant. It is chock full of grit, determination, and heart (and whistleblower Bugs Bunny, talk about aura). Alongside being a social commentary on standing against power and abuse from major corporations, the story also serves as a meta-textual retelling of the concepts introduced by Albert Camus in his 1942 essay, “The Myth of Sisyphus”.
sisyphean Cartoon Philosophy
Throughout the film, Wile E.’s persistent pursuit of the Road Runner is called into question. He never catches him, often fails miserably, yet he still gets up every day and tries again. The film is not subtle about its parallels to the iconic Greek king, with one of the main obstacles being the gang investigating Acme’s “Project Sisyphus”. The title is more than fitting, as Acme intentionally creates products for cartoons, knowing they will fail in order to test and refine products for humans. Cartoons will never succeed using Acme products; Sisyphus will never push the boulder over the hill. Many traditional Looney Tunes cartoons follow the structure of a central character chasing after a constantly moving goalpost, always just almost reaching it before falling flat.
The perspective that Coyote vs. Acme retells in connection to this concept is that the goal is never to actually reach the Road Runner, but to get up and try to do it every day. Wile E.’s purpose lies in the chase itself; his worth is not based on the success of his endeavors but in the simple fact that he just tries. Wile E. is a paradigm for the concept that one should find happiness in doing the act, not the product that comes from it.
cast recognition
While the emotional essence of the plot stands up, the comedy throughout the film stands out. Throughout cinema history, the combination of live action humor and animated gags has held up against the test of time. Bringing the animated Looney Tunes ridiculousness and pairing it against gritty real-world scenarios will always be mind-blowing. Though, there can be no discussion of this combination without recognizing the incredible acting behind it.
The cast of live-action performers shines even brighter in contrast to their animated co-stars. Will Forte and John Cena deliver remarkable and hilarious performances that had me forgetting these cartoons were not living and breathing alongside them. The not only comedic but also emotional chemistry between Wile E. and Avery is an extraordinary feat of acting. However, the performance that truly deserves its flowers is the voice acting of Eric Bauza. Bauza voices over ten cartoon roles in the film including: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety Bird, etc. Bauza seamlessly and spectacularly brings these characters to life, channeling iconic voice performer and original Looney Tunes voice actor Mel Blanc in the process.
film controversy
The story of Coyote vs. Acme is emblematic when considering the trials and tribulations the film had faced up until its release. It begins in February 1990 when The New Yorker publishes a satirical article titled “Coyote V. Acme”, fictionalising a court battle between Wile. E. Coyote and Acme for a faulty product (sound familiar?). 32 years later, production of a film based on the comic begins at Warner Bros. Studios. Production wrapped in May 2022, met glowing reviews and reaction from test audiences in mid-2023, and was set to release in July 2023. This release would not come to pass as Warner Bros. decided to shelve the completed film in November 2023 in exchange for a $30 million tax write-off.
Filmmakers and audiences alike were devastated. Following the shelving, a massive uproar ensued from the public. Attention quickly spread online, inspiring petitions, countless posts, and one costumed superfan protesting outside Warner Bros. Studios. Ultimately, it was this backlash against the industry that led to Ketchup Entertainment acquiring the film and finally releasing it to audiences this year. There is a post-credit dedication thanking fans who showed up and showed out for the film.
The journey of the film’s release really hits the nail on the head for the story’s message. In the current political and economic environment, hope of power against a ruling majority is few and far between. This movie is a pinnacle example of the power that lies in having hope itself and has begun an even bigger conversation around media gatekeeping.
Talks of other shelved projects are being brought into the light that Coyote vs. Acme is shining, including discussions of the 2022 Warner Bros. film Batgirl and another shelved Looney Tunes project Bye Bye Bunny.
Overall, the film was not only rib-hurting hilarious, it carried incredible emotional and philosophical depth and communicated a message of absolute optimism that has inspired a new era of discussion around entertainment.