The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is the latest cinematic release from Warner Brothers, featuring the timeless Looney Tunes. With a legacy spanning nearly 100 years, and some of the most iconic cartoon characters in pop culture, WB is hoping for a film that delights both fans new and old.
The plot centres around Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, when the two are thrust into a zany adventure to save the world from an impending alien threat that is using mind-controlling chewing gum to enslave the Earth. The story is about as Looney Tunes as you can get.
After seeing the film I’m glad to report that The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is a joy to watch. It’s a classic throwback to the golden age of animation. Brought to the big screen in a fully-animated 2D style, it’s packed full of wacky antics and slapstick humour that has long defined the Looney Tunes legacy.
The film offers plenty for all ages to enjoy, and captures the unpredictable mayhem and humour that makes Looney Tunes so transcendent between generations. A few sequences genuinely had me chuckling. However, as entertaining as these moments are, the plot itself feels rather unoriginal. The “aliens invading Earth” setup lacks the creative spark one might hope for from a cinematic outing, and the story begins to drag towards the final act. The runtime feels a little stretched, making the experience more akin to an extended TV special rather than a fully fledged theatrical spectacle.
The film’s reliance on just Porky and Daffy also hinders the experience. While their chemistry is amusing, the absence of other beloved Looney Tunes characters makes the movie feel somewhat lacking in variety. It’s hard not to wish for a few more familiar faces, like Bugs Bunny or Marvin the Martian, to spice things up.
Perhaps the most poignant takeaway is how The Day the Earth Blew Up serves as a reminder of the beauty of 2D animation. In an era where CGI dominates the medium, this film’s hand-drawn art stands out as a labor of love. It’s clear the animators put their heart and soul into every frame which made the film hard not to enjoy.
In short, The Day the Earth Blew Up is a fun, if somewhat flawed, romp featuring two Looney Tunes icons. It’s a nostalgic trip that captures the essence of what made the originals so beloved, while introducing enough modern touches to keep things fresh. While it may not reach the heights of past Looney Tunes greatness (I’m looking at you, Space Jam), it succeeds in delivering a visually stunning adventure packed with heart, humor, and a reminder that 2D animation still has plenty of magic left to offer.
Rating 6/10
