It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination – ‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Review
Dave Green combines Looney Tunes animation with live action to create a joyful feel-good movie with characters we can all relate to.
(Warning: May include spoilers!)
Wile E. Coyote finally gets his day in court in Coyote vs. Acme. Based on Ian Frazier’s 1990 New Yorker article of the same name, director Dave Green’s (Earth to Echo, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) movie is a testament to the phenomenon of animation and the fundamental joy Looney Tunes provides. The movie expands the Looney Tunes universe and gives us a peek behind the red curtain. Does Wile E. mind that he never catches the Road Runner? Maybe. What we do find out is that he does have emotions. This makes him not just an iconic cartoon character, but also one we can relate to.
Chuck Jones’s Wile E. Coyote cartoon premiered in 1949 and the Road Runner has remained just out of Wile E.’s reach ever since, due primarily to the fact that the Acme products he uses always fail. He’s not as fast as the Road Runner so he needs tools and gadgets to catch him. What he learns by the end of the trial is that it’s the thrill of the chase that keeps his desert life interesting.
Coyote vs. Acme gives us the backstory of Acme’s not so kosher roots. A mixture of animation and live action, a la Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, the delightful film plays to our knowledge of the Looney Tunes universe by showcasing some of its most memorable characters, which include Foghorn Leghorn, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, and Porky Pig. Mixing the animation with live action not only reinforces the craftsmanship of the animation, it humanizes some of the characters by steeping them in the real world.
Will Forte plays attorney Kevin Avery, a man who’s a bit of a cartoon character ambulance chaser. He’s used to easy wins where he takes settlements and he doesn’t have to put in any work. His decade long work with cartoon characters have made him the go-to for many characters’ accidents. He becomes passionate about the challenge of facing off with ACME for Wile E. and gets to know a softer side of the “Super Genius” while defending him. John Cena’s uncompromising attorney Buddy Crane is the opposite of Kevin. All he cares about is protecting the reputation of his behemoth client, ACME. The courtroom showdown is pivotal and teaches Kevin not only some things about Wile E. but about himself. Wile E. learns that the Road Runner isn’t his foe but his friend. They bond in their eternal struggle and it’s what keeps both of their lives going. Like the Myth of Sisyphus, Wile E. is locked in his hardship but his hardship is what makes him realize he’s alive.
It’s hard to believe that this work of art was shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery in 2023 as a tax write-off. Luckily Ketchup Entertainment dusted it off and acquired it. Writer Samy Burch (May December) is completely plugged into the Looney Tunes characters, with dialogue that is both clever and easily accessible. Based on a story by Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, the film appeals to all age levels. You’re never too young or old to laugh. Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, and Jim Cummings provide voices for the characters and the rest of the cast includes Luiz Guzman, Lana Condor, Tone Bell, and Kenneth Choi. The film’s team had to persevere and fight to get its product seen as much as the film’s characters have to persevere in court. The fictional world leaks over into the real world, just like the hybrid film visualizes.
Ketchup Entertainment’s Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters August 28, 2026.
Sonya Alexander started off her career training to be a talent agent. She eventually realized she was meant to be on the creative end and has been writing ever since. As a freelance writer she’s written screenplays, covered film, television, music and video games and done academic writing. She’s also been a script reader for over twenty years. She's a member of the African American Film Critics Association and currently resides in Los Angeles.
