Looney Tunes: Back in Action

Looney Tunes: Back in Action is rated PG: for some mild language and innuendo

Mingling animation and real life characters, Looney Tunes: Back in Action follows in the vein of films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and the earlier Tunes tale, Space Jam. While there aren’t any megastar sports figures in this script, there are plenty of scenes "recreated" from earlier cinematic hits.

Tired of taking a backseat to superstar Bugs Bunny (voiced by Joe Alaskey), Daffy Duck (also voiced by Alaskey) is outraged when he is unceremoniously tossed out of the studio after the Warner Brothers (Dan and Don Stanton) make some changes to their laughs department. Wanting to promote their long-eared, carrot-munching celebrity, the movie execs are tired of the argumentative drake and have him ushered to the front door by the overly sober Vice President of Comedy, Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman).

But Daffy’s not the only one out on his ear. After messing up yet again, studio security guard/wanna-be stuntman DJ Drake (Brendan Fraser) is also given the golden handshake. While misery may love company, DJ isn’t at all interested in having the discarded duck tag along, especially when the jobless man comes across a secret message from his star status father.

Damien Drake (Timothy Dalton), the famous face of spy thrillers, has mysteriously disappeared. The only clue to his whereabouts is an encoded communication transmitted from an unknown Las Vegas location, about a remarkable jewel.

Still unable to shake free of the exasperating fowl, DJ heads for the Nevada desert town in search of Dusty Trails (Heather Locklear), a showgirl with information about his missing father and the elusive Blue Diamond. But he has to hurry before the wacky Chairman (Steve Martin) of ACME Corporation and his entourage of wickedly devious Looney Tune characters get their hands on the rare gem with amazing powers.

Dropping anvils, exploding TNT and burning backsides are merely a taste of the cartoon-type violence we’ve come to expect (and get) from Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd and Wile E. Coyote. If your family can tolerate this kind of animated action, there is little other content concern for most parents.

While the first half of the film is fast paced with the introduction of a string of familiar Warner Brothers characters from the past, the latter part is mired down in tying up loose ends and wading to an easily anticipated conclusion. However, given the longevity of these cartoon icons, you can bet this isn’t the last time we’ll hear "That’s All Folks"

Studio: 2003 Warner Home Video.

Do you think violence involving cartoon characters has a different impact on viewers than live-action violence?

Viewers who grew up with Bugs Bunny and the gang often argue that those shows didn’t make them violent people as adults. How would you make a case for or against that statement?

Brendan Fraser brings another cartoon character to life in George of the Jungle. Jenna Elfman lends her voice to the animated Christmas film The Tangerine Bear: Home In Time For Christmas.