Since 1949, Wile E. Coyote has been using every gadget at his disposal to catch Roadrunner. Chuck Jones, who created the two cartoon characters, did so with nine unbreakable core rules in mind — two of the most essential being that Coyote relies on Acme products, and that Coyote fails every time. These rules laid the groundwork for director Dave Green and company to build a courtroom drama that reflects the modern stranglehold big corporations have on us all — with, of course, some Looney Tunes antics along the way.
After decades of failure, Coyote hires burnt-out lawyer Kevin Avery (Will Forte) to sue the Acme Corporation for their faulty line of cartoon products. This puts them head-to-head with Foghorn Leghorn (Eric Bauza) and Acme’s head lawyer, Buddy Crane (John Cena). As the plaintiffs launch their case, they begin to unravel a deeper conspiracy.
This film, in its way, has waged a fight not unlike the one its characters are fighting. In November 2023, Warner Bros. shelved the film in order to take a tax writeoff. Like Wile E. Coyote, the film itself became a victim of corporate bigwigs — until eventually finding its release this week. The decision sparked a lot of debate, particularly via its stars, who have been vocal about its erasure. With Coyote vs. Acme’s proper theatrical release, the conversation of capitalism’s impact on the arts is far from over, but the relief over this movie beating the odds and seeing the light of day adds a meta layer, and complements the film’s own themes.
Said themes are all about being tied to the corporate and legal nightmares of modern life, and who better to represent the Sisyphean effort required to make a difference than Wile E. Coyote? His tireless ambition is a spark of chaotic energy that brings the spirit of revolution to our plaintiffs’ legal team. In fact, all of the Looney Tunes characters feel at home in Albuquerque. Each character adheres to Jones’ core rules while seamlessly serving their purpose in the central narrative. (There are also brief mentions of legacy characters who have since been retired, such as Speedy Gonzalez.)
Coyote vs. Acme is a fun time for all ages. It also leaves the door open for the exploration of corporate ethics and their relationship with the legal system — but it’s not so serious as to feel like a departure from classic Looney Tunes.
