The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Violent? Yep. Genius? Maybe. Funny? Definitely!
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that while there are many joys in revisiting these classic, laugh-out-loud cartoons, they should also be aware that there's lots of cartoon violence and name calling. Younger children might want to mimic some of the characters, which could get them in trouble! But parents will enjoy the gags aimed at adults, and mature kids will love the classic characters.
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What's the Story?
The Looney Toons gang (voiced by Mel Blanc) are back in rare form for this montage of classic cartoon clips. Staged in three acts, Bugs Bunny narrates the story of Yosemite Sam's quest to get that rabbit in "Satan's Waitin'." In Act Two, "The Unmentionables," Bugs himself stars as Elegant Mess, a take on FBI hero Eliot Ness, who chases after Rocky the gangster. Finally, in Act Three, "The Oswald Awards," all of the gang arrive at an award show to discover who wins the Best Actor category. The segues between the clips are meant to tie the show together, and what results is a great collection of classic Looney Toons clips.
Is It Any Good?
Not only is the quality of the writing very good, but the voice characterizations that Mel Blanc portrays border on genius. The artwork is amazing, considering that each cell of the animated piece was hand drawn and painted. The music -- violin plucks for footsteps, flute trills for birds in flight, oboes, clarinets, bass drums -- they simply don't make 'em like this anymore.
However, it must be noted that these cartoons are loose and fast with the violent turns of events. There are lots of lumps on the head, and feathers and fur lost because dynamite has exploded nearby. Punch-drunk voices and raucous verbal tirades can influence young viewers to act out in ways that might be pushing it. Parents may want to prescreen these cartoons to see if these rough-and-tumble aspects of slapstick are OK for their families. But they might just find themselves enjoying the show as much as their kids do!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of cartoons. How do old cartoons differ from new ones? Many of these cartoons were made in the 1940s and '50s. Can you tell? How is the music different? How is the humor different? Is there more violence? Are they still funny?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 28, 1981
- On DVD or streaming: April 28, 2009
- Cast: Frank Nelson, June Foray, Mel Blanc
- Director: Friz Freleng
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Adventures
- Run time: 80 minutes
- MPAA rating: G
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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