Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up is a fun animated movie starring two of Warner's most iconic cartoon characters: Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, who must join forces to protect the world from an alien domination plot. A 2D animated film with the Looney Tunes characters may seem like an anachronism in the era of 3D animation with complex textures and style blends. However, classics are classics for a reason, and this movie is full of the zany spirit of the Looney Tunes that has influenced animation for decades (plus, it’s the first fully animated feature with these characters, as films like Space Jam included live-action elements).
"Space Jam: A New Legacy", the 1996 classic, has become a pop culture landmark. Warner Bros. blended Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes in an intergalactic basketball game, sparking the imaginations of millions of children. It's now part of the emotional memory of a generation -- even if the story is simple, even simplistic, without any depth. Now, in "Space Jam: A New Legacy", the stakes are raised: LeBron James stars as the protagonist and the Tunes -- Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety, Lola, Speedy, Sylvester and company -- are back. However, it hides the simplicity of the plot (which repeats itself) with a pile of references to Warner Media properties. "Game of Thrones," DC Comics, the Harry Potter universe, "The Matrix," and even "Mad Max" appear here and there as winks to the audience. There's no subtlety in the story directed by Malcolm D. Lee (of the terrible "Girls Trip" and "Scary Movie 5"). Everything is very obvious, in a stiff plot that doesn't surprise. It does what's expected, the basics. And, with that, it manages to entertain. There are some really good ideas, like the mix of Taz with beloved Warner Media characters, and even a joke about Michael Jordan's name. Laughter comes at various points, there's some excitement. But the question remains: is the future of these algorithm films, made to order for what we're expecting? Have studio movies stopped surprising us? That's something to worry about. But, for now, just hop on this journey.
