‘Coyote vs. Acme’ Review: A Wile E. Good Comeback for the Looney Tunes

Coyote vs. Acme became the most important Looney Tunes movie without even intending to be. The film was set to release on July 21, 2023, before Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) swapped it out for Greta Gerwig‘s Barbie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. After months without a new release date, WBD shocked fans by saying they’d no longer release the finished film for a $30 million tax write-off. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the first time the studio pulled the plug on one of their films. They did the same to Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah‘s Batgirl starring Leslie Grace, Brendan Fraser, and Michael Keaton. They also did it to Scoob! Holiday Haunt, an animated Scooby-Doo prequel film.

While Batgirl and Scoob! were nearly completed productions, Coyote vs. Acme was fully finished and ready for release. A social campaign ignited, and stars like Will Forte expressed their anger regarding the film’s cancellation. In a surprising turn of events, the rights ended up being sold to Ketchup Entertainment, who would give the film a global theatrical release. Whether you’ve been following the film from the beginning or only heard about the whirlwind it went through, Coyote vs. Acme is a must-watch on the big screen. It brings the Looney Tunes humor and nostalgia, but with a fresh emotional perspective on these lovable characters.

The Silent Will Not Be Silenced in ‘Coyote vs. Acme’

As seen countless times in the Looney Tunes cartoons, Wile E. Coyote has tried and failed to catch the Road Runner, with no help from the Acme products at his disposal. After being beaten and bruised, Wile E. sees an ad from Kevin Avery (Forte), a lazy attorney who settles ACME lawsuits, and tricks him into suing the company over its dysfunctional products. Avery goes up against his law school classmate, Buddy Crane (John Cena), Acme’s chief legal officer, and Acme CEO Foghorn Leghorn (Eric Bauza) in this David vs. Goliath story.

While there are some hilarious moments during the trial, if you’re looking for courtroom drama, you won’t find it in Coyote vs. Acme. The film focuses on the uphill battle that Avery and his niece/intern, Paige (Lana Condor), go through. Some investigative aspects feel reminiscent of Robert Zemeckis‘ Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, but the story isn’t as neatly wrapped.

The surprising part of Coyote vs. Acme is how touching it is. The dynamic between Wile E. and Avery is fun to watch, especially since Wile E. only uses signs to communicate. Acting alongside an animated character surely isn’t an easy feat, but Forte makes it look easy. He has a few heartfelt scenes that made me care so much about Wile E. Coyote, as both of their journeys deal with going up against a foe they can’t keep up with.

Surprise, Corporations Are Shady in ‘Coyote vs. Acme’

It’s very interesting that Coyote vs. Acme got canned by WBD (cue the Euphoria meme), considering the film’s theme about going up against impossible odds. The shift from an unseen company in the cartoons to a huge corporation that monopolizes all types of products feels very timely. The Looney Tunes characters may be silly and make audiences laugh with their slapstick comedy, but the film also paints the darker side of their world.

Having Foghorn Leghorn as the CEO of Acme is actually very fitting considering it’s in his character to talk a big game. The film does a decent job of painting him as a villain while still injecting some situational comedy. Cena and P.J. Byrne are a surprisingly great comedic duo. Whether it’s deadpan delivery or eccentric performances, they nail it. There’s an exchange between Cena’s character and Tweety Bird (Bauza) that will live rent-free in my head for a long time.

The Looney Tunes Renaissance Starts Now

Getting to watch Coyote vs Acme and actually write about it was something I didn’t think would be possible after it was written off. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s a laugh-out-loud riot with a ton of heart that’ll rejuvenate the love for the Looney Tunes. These characters have been around for almost a century and deserve to be brought back into the spotlight in the right hands.

Follow the message of the film and show these corporations that these characters are beloved and shouldn’t be pushed aside. Seeing it in a packed theater is a great experience with all the jokes and emotions you’ll resonate with. When it lands on streaming, keep supporting the film so we get more Looney Tunes love.

Coyote vs. Acme arrives in theaters on August 28. Follow Agents of Fandom socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.