For those who don’t know, the true story behind getting “Coyote vs Acme” released is movie material in itself. The film was fully completed in early November, 2023. But then news dropped that Warner Bros. Entertainment had canceled its release in order to claim a $30 million tax write-off. The move sparked intense backlash from an angry public and from within the industry. There was enough heat to make the studio reverse course and allow the filmmakers to shop the film to other buyers. Ketchup Entertainment saved the movie, buying it for $50 million.

It was a truly bizarre course of events considering how well the movie test screened and the enthusiasm that was building around it. Thankfully the story has a happy ending, and not only because “Coyote vs Acme” is finally getting its well-deserved release. But because this live-action/animation hybrid is a blast. It’s funny, family-friendly, and fiercely faithful to the spirit of these classic Looney Tunes characters who so many of us spent our childhood with.

The story of “Coyote vs. Acme” is based on Ian Frazier’s 1990 article of the same name that was published in The New Yorker. It’s adapted for the screen by Samy Burch who tells this fittingly looney tale in a way that is both a nostalgic blast and a genuinely funny comedy. Director David Green does the rest, surprisingly grounding the story yet with no shortage of Looney Tunes hijinks. Fans will love the signature zaniness and they’ll smile with every classic character who pops in to make an appearance.

After years of using faulty Acme products in his futile attempts at catching the speedy Road Runner, the hapless Wile E. Coyote travels to Albuquerque, New Mexico and hires an equally hapless billboard attorney named Kevin (Will Forte). Coyote’s idea is to sue the Acme Corporation for decades of defective mail-order products they’ve sent him. But Kevin isn’t a ruthless, go-for-the-jugular lawyer. He specializes in quickly settling small, easy cases.

After the crafty Coyote dupes him into filing a lawsuit against Acme, Kevin scrambles to find a way out of the mess. “Our job is not to win this case”, he declares to his staff. “Our job is to still be in business when it’s over.” But that won’t be easy. Especially when Kevin learns he’ll be going head-to-head against Buddy Crane (John Cena), Acme’s merciless chief legal counsel who has all the company’s corporate connections at his disposal.

Green really leans into the goofiness of the film’s premise, and I say that as an enormous compliment. He maintains just the right comic tone throughout the brisk 100 minutes, and everyone on-screen is in lockstep. Forte nails the down on his luck Kevin, who has settled for a go-nowhere job and is content to live in a motel for another five years. Cena feels a bit out of place at first, but the over-the-top energy he brings ends up fitting right in. Meanwhile Lana Condor gets a nice supporting role as Paige, Kevin’s niece and spirited new intern.

The combination of 3D animation and live-action is incredibly well done. Reminiscent of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, it allows the cartoons to feel perfectly at home in the real-world setting. And it fuels some of the best humor which is often aimed at long-time Looney Tunes fans who will love the many callbacks. But “Coyote vs. Acme” is a hysterical romp with a big heart which leads to some surprisingly moving moments. And for this charming, funny, and root-worthy underdog story, that is the proverbial icing on the cake.

VERDICT – 4 STARS