Coyote vs. Acme Review

In 2023, Warner Bros. committed cultural vandalism by withdrawing many films and TV shows so they could be tax write-offs. These projects range from the unreleased Batgirl film to the acclaimed animated series Final Space. The family film Coyote vs. Acme was set to be a $30 million tax write-off but was saved by Ketchup Entertainment, which brought the North American distribution rights.

Wile E. Coyote is one of the Acme Corporation’s most loyal customers, even though they always fail. After several failed attempts to catch The Roadrunner, Wile E. travels to Albuquerque so he can meet a lawyer so he can sue the corporation. Even though his lawyer, Kevin Avery (Will Forte), wants to settle, Wile E. is able to force a trial and goes head-to-head with one of the biggest companies in the world.

Coyote vs. Acme was the lucky one because it was able to secure a theatrical release. Many others will probably never see the light of day. Anyone who cares about film wants to see Coyote vs. Acme, so Warner Bros. and their CEO David Zaslav will be humiliated. As a film critic, I have to give my honest opinion. Fortunately, I enjoyed it a lot.

I grew up watching Looney Tunes shorts, I made my dad watch Space Jam, and I won a Tweety Bird stuffed toy on a family holiday to Florida. The Looney Tunes cinematic record has been spotty. The Day the Earth Blew Up was a fun, zany homage to the 1950s, but Space Jam: A New Legacy was a cynical advert for HBO Max which was masquerading as a film. Coyote vs. Acme was easily the best Looney Tunes film. It was a joke-laden film that was non-stop and made me smile and giggle throughout. It had loads of physical and visual humour that will please audience members of all ages.

Coyote vs. Acme did have a strong creative team behind it. James Gunn co-wrote the story, and it was directed by Dave Green. Gunn doesn’t need an introduction since he’s a legend in the superhero medium, who mixed action, comedy, visual effects, and sentiment. His first Hollywood job as a writer was on the live-action Scooby-Doo, whilst Green’s previous film was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, which was influenced by the 1980s animated series. These people understand why properties work, and they managed to do that with Coyote vs. Acme.

Coyote vs. Acme was a courtroom film, which was a risk considering the last courtroom family film I can think of was Bee Movie. Courtrooms and the legal system do not lend themselves well to family entertainment. Coyote vs. Acme made it work because Kevin and his associates ended up uncovering a wider conspiracy. It made the film feel closer to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the gold standard of live-action animation hybrids. To put it another way, Coyote vs. Acme was a family-friendly version of Erin Brockovich. Coyote vs. Acme had a strong anti-corporation message, which was fitting considering the film’s journey to the cinema. Even though Coyote vs. Acme was filmed in 2022, it works in today’s political climate.

Coyote vs. Acme also managed to have a fair amount of emotion. Kevin was a lawyer who had given up and only wanted to take on quick, simple cases. He was forced into a big lawsuit because of Wile E.’s deceit, and his idealistic niece/intern, Paige (Lana Condor), wanted to take on the case in the name of justice. Kevin goes on a personal journey about the importance of justice, friendship, and persistence. It was a predictable character arc, but it was done well because the audience could invest in Kevin and Wile E.’s journey. It made for a nice change to portray Wile E. as a protagonist rather than a punching bag, and to show why he was determined to chase The Roadrunner.

Coyote vs. Acme was a delightful film for all ages, and it deserves to be seen. It was a great return to form for the Looney Tunes.