I was delighted to hear that Warner Brothers were releasing their first feature length, fully animated movie. As someone who grew up on the old shorts, I was excited at the prospect of seeing the gang on the big screen.
So it seemed strange to have a milestone Looney Tunes film not even mention Bugs Bunny. However, rather than a purely comedic outing with its stellar ensemble of characters, Warner Brothers have gone a different direction for its cinematic debut.
The Day The Earth Blew Up is a sci-fi/buddy movie. Instead of saturating fans with their favourites, they are zero-ing on an age old trope.
This is a story of best buds who overcome adversity through solidarity. Since we’re talking about Looney Tunes, who better to headline it than the oddest of odd couples: Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. Between Daffy’s explosive personality and Porky’s nervous stutters, there are plenty of personality clashes to fuel the laughter.
It has been awhile since I’ve watched a Looney Tunes cartoon but I do remember the zaniness, political incorrectness and absurdity of it all. The infamous “duck season, rabbit season” short illustrates this perfectly.
However, The Day The Earth Blew Up has a darker edge. If you are expecting this movie to be like Space Jam, steer clear. This is not a child-friendly, sci-fi themed adventure. In fact, this genre leans more towards sci fi horror.
The alien invader plotline can be scary to young viewers as the scenes are marked by a dark colour palette and ominous music. My 6 year old tapped out half an hour into this movie as these scenes overwhelmed him. I’m glad he did because as I watched further (by myself) I found a few scenes as potentially grotesque for kids.
Additionally, as expected of a sci-fi movie, there is casual use of jargon (eg:ectoplasm) which will leave young minds lost.
There’s also a healthy dose of physical violence (including self-harm) that’s best left to more mature audiences. While this is something us adult Looney Tunes fans might have grown up with, it does not sit right in today’s cultural climate.
Lastly, language is a potential issue. There are semi-regular, casual insults used throughout the movie, which I am sure no parent will want their youngin emulating at home. There are also some instances which could be interpreted as subtle innuendo but I feel these are a case of “if you go looking for something, you’ll find it”. They will likely go unnoticed by children.
The Day The Earth Blew Up is rated PG. Parental supervision is recommended for viewers under fifteen. Given the above, I suggest a minimum age of twelve with adult supervision.
While this movie seems to have taken a detour from the madcap antics we are used to, it’s not for the worst.
If animation can be accepted as an “adult” genre, why shouldn’t the Looney Tunes be a part of it? Looney Tunes is a legacy media franchise, established in the 1930s. A large proportion of their fan base are now adults. It makes perfect sense to create a movie that they can enjoy.
If you love sci-fi and grew up on Looney Tunes, this movie would be your (space) jam. You just might have to leave the kids at home for this one.
Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up opens in cinemas on 27th March.