^{Credit: Coyote vs. Acme (Ketchup Entertainment, Warner Animation Group)}

It’s hard to believe that Coyote vs. Acme actually exists. Not just because Warner Bros. did everything to bury the completed film for a tax write-off under the guidance of Fearless Leader David Zaslav. Even if you set aside the film’s arduous journey to distribution (thank you, Ketchup Entertainment), you wouldn’t expect the same production company that greenlit Space Jam: A New Legacy to insert the Looney Tunes into a courtroom setting. Equally random, the film’s screenwriter is Samy Burch, who scored an Oscar nomination for the psychological dramedy May December. Burch understood the assignment, though, not only delivering a worthy companion to Roger Rabbit, but perhaps the funniest courtroom comedy since My Cousin Vinny. 

While it isn’t shocking that a writer of Burch’s caliber rises to the occasion, it’s ironic that Coyote vs. Acme would possess such clever dialogue, considering that the protagonist doesn’t speak. Of course, this entire production is laced with irony. Wile E. Coyote’s lawsuit against ACME Corporation came to mirror the filmmakers’ uphill battle just to share this movie with the world. Director Dave Green and company have made a surprisingly inspiring film about perseverance, accepting that failure is often a stepping stone to success. Just as Wile E. will never give up trying to catch the Road Runner, Coyote vs. Acme is a testament to the power of endurance, speaking to every David who’s gone up against a David Zaslav.

Although we don’t want to see the Road Runner to wind up as dinner, the underdog in us can’t help but root for the Coyote to get his due. After decades of traps literally blowing up in his face, Wile E. realizes that it might not be his fault. It can’t be a coincidence that Acme products were used for all of his failed pursuits. Wile E. thus gets in contact with Will Forte’s Kevin Avery - a nice nod to Tex Avery. To keep a motel room over his head, Kevin takes out petty lawsuits against Acme, always settling for a few hundred dollars at most. Wile E. has higher aspirations, suing for every Acme product and demanding his day in court. 

Like another Looney Tunes movie, The Day the Earth Blew Up, Coyote vs. Acme is a buddy picture that largely succeeds thanks to the chemistry between its leads. One of those leads happens to be a cartoon coyote who communicates with signs, but it never feels like Forte is acting opposite empty space. He brings real sincerity to a washed-up lawyer who is settling in more ways than one. The Coyote ignites a spark in Kevin, who finds that true failure is never trying at all. The entire live-action cast is great, with John Cena as Acme’s macho lawyer, Lana Condor as Kevin’s ambitious niece, and Martha Kelly, who has mastered deadpan like few other actresses have. 

Weirdly enough, the cartoon cast of characters is more hit and miss. Besides the Coyote and Road Runner, a few standouts include Bugs Bunny in a Deep Throat role, Foghorn Leghorn as the blowhard head of Acme, and a certain cancelled skunk in the best animated cameo since Ugly Sonic. Yet, some other Looney Tunes like Yosemite Sam and Witch Hazel pop out without doing much. The animation aims to replicate 2D, although the characters were clearly 3D rendered. This isn’t a deal-breaker, as the slapstick is sharp and a lot of personality still shines through in Wile E.’s expressions. However, some of the background animated characters look unfinished, never quite immersing us in this world like some other hybrid pictures. 

Space Jam and Looney Tunes: Back in Action weren’t masterpieces, but the animation is one area where they have Coyote vs. Acme beat. That said, Coyote vs. Acme tops its predecessors in virtually every other department, from the dialogue to its themes. The film is not only funny, but Burch crafts a genuinely interesting mystery with a conspiracy at its core. By the time the film reached its climactic courtroom showdown, I was aghast to find just how invested I was. Part of that’s because the film takes its time making these characters so empathetic and endearing. There are also the real-world parallels, with the film becoming unintentionally meta. 

Foghorn Leghorn makes it no secret that he’s the bad guy, but acts as if his careless actions are justified in the name of progress. One could easily substitute him with David Zaslav, arguing that it’s okay to erase art to meet a bottom line. There will always be Zaslavs and Leghorns in positions of power. That doesn’t mean the little guy should be discouraged from pushing back. Sure, you might not walk away victorious. If Wile E. Coyote is still chasing the Road Runner after 76 years, though, perhaps we shouldn’t so easily throw in the towel either. Whether or not Coyote vs. Acme finds the audience it deserves, it feels like the filmmakers have already won. That said, see this movie! 

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1, 2, and 3. Available Now!