Rating: ***
Review Date: 3/18/25
Cast: Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck have their hands full trying to save the world from both an alien invasion and a deadly asteroid. Petunia Pig joins them as a super smart and hopelessly nerdy scientist, which makes Porky's heart flutter and puts a strain on his friendship with Daffy. As you might guess, madcap mayhem ensues.
The film is a lavish love letter to everyone who grew up watching classic Warner Brothers cartoons on Saturday morning, and the classic 2D animation is superb. The voice acting is excellent throughout, and Eric Bauza does a fantastic job bringing Porky and Daffy to life and honoring the great Mel Blanc. This version of Daffy leans more towards Bob Clampett than Chuck Jones, which makes him an agent of chaos and allows Bauza to go completely nuts. The music is just as bold and bombastic as the action, and very reminiscent of the original Looney Tunes cartoons. Bryan Adams and R.E.M. also show up on the soundtrack as humorous musical montages. The gags come non-stop, and while not every joke sticks the landing, there were enough to keep me chuckling the entire time. While full-bore lunacy dominates the film, there's also room for some heartfelt drama and romance. My only complaints are that the big plot twist feels way too forced and deceptive, and the film seems a little too long. I can only handle that level of insanity for about an hour before my brain gives up.
For whatever reasons, Warner Brothers decided not to distribute the film domestically, and Ketchup Entertainment picked up the rights instead. That said, WB has made a lot of questionable decisions lately and buried several already completed films. It's a wild and zany ride full of heart and silliness, which was exactly what I needed in these increasingly troubled times. Although hearing R.E.M.'s "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" packs an unintentionally heavy doom-and-gloom punch as we're witnessing the death of America and the collapse of Western Civilization in real-time. Enjoy these lighthearted moments while you still can.