MOVIE - LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION - Review Rating $$$$ (OUT OF 10)
STARRING - Brendan Fraser (DJ Drake/Himself), Jenna Elfman (Kate), Steve Martin (ACME Chairman), Timothy Dalton (Damian Drake), Heather Locklear (Dusty Tails), Joan Cusack (Mother) & Bill Goldberg (Mr. Smith).
CHARACTER VOICES:Joe Alaskey: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Beaky Buzzard, Sylvester, Mama Bear. Jeff Glenn Bennett: Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Nasty Canasta. Billy West: Elmer Fudd, Peter Lorre. Eric Goldberg: Tweety Bird, Marvin the Martian, Speedy Gonzales.
DIRECTOR - Joe Dante (Gremlins, Innerspace, Small Soldiers, Gremlins 2: The New Batch & The Howling)
I am old enough to remember watching the Bugs Bunny Comedy Hour and looked forward to these Looney Tunes characters getting their chance to strut their stuff again. I was immensely disappointed with Looney Tunes: Back In Action and I don't think the reason has anything to do with the fact I'm getting old.
The charm of the original Bugs Bunny show was a combination of short, clever skits and the character's willingness to step outside the action and speak directly to the audience. This combination not only kept you entertained but made you feel like you were in on the joke. The movie isn't short or clever and those seemingly impromptu moments have been turned into product placement pitches.
That's the main problem with Looney Tunes: Back In Action. In reality its just an ode to brand engineering. The edginess that made the characters funny, in their original incarnation, comes off as crass as the characters are reduced to pitchmen.
The script, which is neither funny or original, is so bad that it manages to squeeze the life out of Brendon Fraser's (The Quiet American) usual aw-shuck's charm. The worst and most annoying performance, in the movie, is turned in by the normally brilliant Steve Martin (ACME Chairman). His over the top impression of Mike Myers's already over the top character, Dr. Evil (Austin Powers in Goldmember), is just plain irritating.
I didn't laugh heartily once watching Looney Tunes: Back In Action.That's...That's...That's All (you need to know) Folks.
Running time - 91 minutes
Check out my TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2003 & WORST MOVIES OF 2003 lists.
Alternative Reviews:
Roger Ebert's Review
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Looney Tunes: Back In Action Official Web Site
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2005
David Schwartz.
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2/28/05; 1:48:25 AM.
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