WHAT’S IT ABOUT
Porky Pig and Daffy Duck become Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble-gum factory uncover a secret alien mind-control plot. Faced with cosmic odds, they must save their town and the world while not driving each other totally looney.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
The movie begins with a classic animation-style opening. An asteroid heads toward Earth, actually disguising a UFO that smashes through a barn roof. This Looney Tunes film focuses on three cartoon characters as the heroes, with animation that nicely reminds us of the old-school cartoons. The story starts by showing how Porky Pig and Daffy Duck (both voiced by Eric Bauza) grew up together as orphans. A giant farmer named Jim took them in and eventually left them his house, which they hadn’t kept in good shape. After Jim passes away, the two friends are responsible for the property but fail to notice a massive hole in their roof left by a UFO, covered in strange space goo. Needing money for repairs, Daffy and Porky look for jobs and end up at the Goodie Gum Company, where Petunia Pig (voiced by Candi Milo) works as a flavor scientist. The company is about to release a new gum flavor called Super Strongberry. While there, Daffy catches a scientist dumping strange goo into the gum mixture. He discovers the gum actually contains a mind-controlling substance created by The Invader (Peter MacNicol), who plans to take over the world. When they realize the danger, Petunia, Porky, and Daffy team up to stop the alien plot. The film creates a fresh backstory for these classic characters, showing Daffy and Porky as brothers who experience many mishaps growing up together. There’s even an explanation for Porky’s stutter. Now as homeowners, they scramble to clean their property before an inspection from Mrs. Grecht (Laraine Newman), the town’s strictest property inspector. After discovering the roof damage, the duo tries various jobs to make money – including struggling as baristas making complicated coffee orders. In one funny scene, Daffy inflates his bottom, trying to become a social media influencer. These visual gags are just the beginning of many successful jokes throughout the movie. Given only a week to fix their home before it’s condemned, Porky falls for his traditional girlfriend, Petunia at the gum factory. She’s working on new gum flavors using some gross ingredients. The factory’s newest flavor (which Petunia angrily points out is just an old flavor with a new name) launches the same day the alien plans to use it to control everyone’s minds. Interestingly, the villain isn’t Marvin the Martian but a new character called The Invader, a creepy green alien who feels like something from a 1950s sci-fi movie. Daffy figures out the evil plan early, but since he’s known for being crazy, nobody believes him at first. Once townspeople start acting strange after chewing the gum, the trio must work together to save everyone. The movie maintains the classic dynamic between Porky and Daffy – with Daffy as the loud, would-be hero and Porky as the smarter, more level-headed friend. Fans of the original cartoons will appreciate these character details. The film moves quickly like the old shorts but with a full-length story. As our heroes try to “undo the chew,” the adventure builds toward an exciting conclusion. Director Peter Browngardt delivers some truly beautiful animation, especially during the more surreal moments. The film brings back the cleverness and imagination that made Looney Tunes popular, something recent movies featuring these characters have missed. Unlike previous Looney Tunes movies that were mainly compilations of old cartoons or mixed live-action with animation, this is perhaps the first true Looney Tunes feature film with an original storyline centered entirely on the characters. What makes this film extraordinary is that it suits families while staying true to the Loony Tunes spirit, which has always amused adults as well. Positive themes of fellowship, attractiveness, and loyalty are spattered throughout the film, making it entertaining for all ages. Built upon exquisite voice deliveries from Bauza, Milo, and MacNicol, this stops short of once more handing in the year’s most lethal, zany cartoon.
OUR RATING – A ZANY 8