Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run (2015) Reviews

• These Melodies are Truly Merry, and the Tunes are Fantastically Loony

  DareDevilKid2015-10-10

  Reviewed by: Dare Devil Kid (DDK) Rating: 4/5 stars Devoted fans of the classic 1940s and 50s "Merry Melodies" and "Looney Tunes" cartoons from Warner Brothers never know what they're going to get these days when they see their favorite characters revived in new, updated versions. It's pretty hit-or-miss since some current writers and animators get what made the old characters tick, while others, bless 'em, just plain don't. The people behind the original feature-length, direct-to-video cartoon movie "Looney Tunes: Rabbit Run" get it. But to their credit, instead of simply recreating the old stuff, they've taken familiar characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, Marvin the Martian, and Speedy Gonzales, among others, and cast them in a dizzying screwball comedy that's a cross between a "Bringing Up Baby" and "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". As a world-weary New York cabbie, Bugs gets to downplay his old wise-guy persona, and serve as straight man for Lola Bunny, a flighty, valley-girlish, amateur perfume inventor who hopes to take the Paris fragrance industry by storm with her intoxicating new formula. But when the military finds out that Lola's new perfume is also an invisibility formula, they'll stop at nothing to get it. The sight of Foghorn Leghorn as an overbearing Army general ordering around his minions, including agents Elmer Fudd and Cecil Turtle is refreshingly exuberant. The secret of the formula is also discovered by Lola's former department store boss, Giovanni Jones (the opera singer in the 1948 classic "Long-Haired Hare"). He follows her and Bugs all the way to Paris along with an avaricious Yosemite Sam (smuggling himself aboard the plane squeezed into an old lady's dog carrier) and everyone else who can't wait to get their paws on the precious formula. Bugs and Lola make a great team and add their chemistry adds verve to every frame they're in, whether it be leading the bad guys in a frenetic car chase through the streets of New York, posing as stewardesses on a flight to Paris (Bugs manages to get into drag again, of course) during which they end up falling out of the plane, and finally being kidnapped by none other than Marvin the Martian and taken to his deep space headquarters where he plans something nefarious with Lola's formula. More hilarity ensues with the appearance of those eternally giddy, stereotypically-gay gophers, Mac and Tosh, in their fabulous yacht. Their song-and-dance extravaganza, "Girl, You're Fabulous", is a hoot, as is Lola's big number "Smell in My Mind". The great Daffy Duck brings his own prodigious persona into the mix in fine style as a fellow cab driver unwillingly caught up in the action. Also appearing in lesser but no less welcome capacity are Speedy Gonzalez as Lola's landlord and Pepe Le Pew as an eau-de-cologne magnate. For pure fun that's fun to look at, "Looney Tunes: Rabbit Run" is well worth getting caught up in for its 70-minute duration. It's made by people who appreciate the original Looney Tunes cartoons while easily avoiding being just a pallid facsimile of them. It's not your typical Looney Tunes plot, but if you love the old cartoons, in addition to appreciating the cockeyed appeal of screwball comedies, you should find yourself having a rollicking good time with this breezy, lightning-paced, lighthearted adventure as much as your kids. (Or if you're like me; somebody else's kids.)

• Run Lola (and Bugs) Run

  rocketXpert2017-11-28

  When I saw the low rating this movie had received, I assumed it had something to do with the fact that it was ostensibly a spin-off of The Looney Tunes Show, which I personally really enjoy, but has garnered its share of haters for having the audacity to not be exactly like the Looney Tunes they remember from childhood. Now that I've seen Rabbits Run, I assume it has more to do with the fact that the movie is just not very good. Out of all the Looney Tunes movies I've seen, including the ones that were just glorified clip shows, this might be the lamest. Before I watched Rabbits Run, I couldn't help feeling a little let down that I would not be hearing Kristen Wiig reprising the role of Lola. However, that ended up being the least of my grievances. It turns out that Rachel Ramras is actually a perfectly suitable replacement, and after a couple of minutes, I'd almost entirely managed to forget that she sounded different at all. What I should have been more concerned about was pretty much every other aspect of this movie. Aside from maintaining the personalities of a few of the characters that were established on The Looney Tunes Show, this is not set within the same continuity as the series, which feels like a wasted opportunity right off the bat. I know that the Looney Tunes have not maintained a consistent continuity throughout the bulk of of their long career, but part of what what made The Looney Tunes Show appealing to me is that it did have its own internal canon. If you're not going to utilize that, why make this movie a spin-off of that series? Imagine if they made a movie spin-off of Friends, but then it was revealed that it would be pretending that the show's ten seasons never happened and that the actors would all be playing different versions of their characters, meeting for the first time. Maybe Joey only shows up for a quick cameo. Fans might find that a little disconcerting, not to mention disappointing. Sure, the Looney Tunes characters will probably continue to exist in one form or another from now until we're all dead, but as someone with a particular fondness for the incarnations of those characters that TLTS gave us, I can't help feeling a little melancholy that that this chapter of their history is ending on an unfortunately lackluster note. Everything about Rabbits Run is inferior to The Looney Tunes Show, including the animation. There were some sweet moments between Bugs and Lola, but beyond that, I can't say that I had a good time watching it. They basically ditched what made TLTS unique in favor of doing a rather tedious, cheap-looking, unfunny adventure movie. I doubt that abandoning the sitcom format at this late date is going to win over any haters while fans such as myself are likely to only be bummed out that what could very well be The Looney Tunes Show's swan song turned out to be such a dull mess.

• Awesome Original Looney Tunes Movie

  mickdansforth2015-08-06

  Content: AWESOME! Near the beginning of the film, Lola Bunny does sing a song that does leans heavy on the Autotune, and is a bit painful, but then the movie kicks into high gear and the movie is fun and surprising through out. These are most definitely The Looney Tunes Show versions of these characters, but without the history from the show. Lola talks endlessly, Bugs Bunny feels put-upon all the time. Daffy is a jerk, Speedy is understanding, but not putting up with disrespect. And the Gophers are in a relationship, so the being extraordinarily nice to each other has sort of gone out the window. (So cool!) Foghorn Leghorn, Cecil the Turtle and Elmer Fudd are involved in a government plot to secret to mention that Lola Bunny inadvertently gets mixed up in. Bugs, Daffy and Yosemite Sam get pulled along for the ride. A ride that takes us from New York to Paris and eventually Mars, because you can't have a Looney Tunes movie without Marvin the Martian. Unlike many many many Looney Tunes movies from before, this is not cobbled together from old clips. This is all new animation. And a great ride. Packaging: Fine. DVD in a light DVD Case (w/ the recycle holes) and a cardboard slip sleeve. (No Blu Ray or Ultraviolet included) Languages: Audio: English, Thai, French, Spanish, Portuguese Subtitles: English, Thai, French, Spanish, Portuguese. Special Features: GREAT! This DVD features the first episode of The Looney Tunes Show, "Best Friends" as well as 3 theatrical CGI Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote shorts, "Coyote Falls", "Fur A Flying", and "Rabid Rider" as well as a Tweety and Sylvester CGI theatrical short, "I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat". These were released in theaters and on home video with various animated Warner Bros releases. But if you didn't see those movies, these are new to you. Trailers: No front loaded trailers and only 2 in the special features. Scooby Vs KISS and the upcoming Batman Unlimited 2: Monsters Mayhem. Buy/Don't Buy: Yes. Buy. This is a really fun movie. With Looney Tunes characters in parts big and small. This is probably the last time we will see these versions of these characters. Hopefully Warners will get around to releasing season 2 of The Looney Tunes show. (Also season 3 of Duck Dodgers and seasons 2-5 of The Tweety and Sylvester Mysteries.)

• Even though the show disappointed me, this was actually okish!

  Irishchatter2016-05-24

  Now, I wouldn't be too fond of the redesigns of the Looney Tunes characters including Lola but, it is a bit better than the show. At the beginning of the film, I thought it was gonna be rubbish because, the song they had for Lola was terrible. Especially, they destroyed the song with auto tune. However after that painful moment hearing Lolas song, I got more interested in looking at the movie. I like the fact it had a good few action scenes, it does remind you a mix of Space Jam or Looney Tunes:Back in Action. I love Kirsten Wiig but I have to tell you this, I think Rachel Ramras is a better voice actress for Lola than Wiig. The reason i said this because, Lola in Space Jam had a calm voice so Ramras was able to put that off quite well, for an actress who I never even heard of before until this! On the other hand, I think Wiig sounded too exhausting as Lola, I mean Lola is meant to be considered "crazy" but I think Wiig went too far for her character to be honest with you! Anyways I even loved how Bugs cared more about Lola than on the show. Even though, I don't think him being too openly annoyed suits him still as a character. I loved how they both agreed to become a couple, it gave me such a fuzzy feeling! Oh how it brings back memories when they were together in Space Jam not so long ago, haha. I love them as a couple as always! Even though again, I'm not happy with the redesigns, Lolas song and the fact, some of the personalities like Bugs still acts as a grumpy sod. For Ramras, the storyline and the memories of Space Jam a bit, I give this movie 5/10.

• Bourne meets Bugs

  amesmonde2015-08-13

  Lola Bunny makes a perfume out of a flower that unbeknown to her is sort after by unscrupulous characters including the government due to its invisibility properties. Set in New York anyone familiar with the recent Looney Tunes sitcom style series will feel at home with the sharp writing, witty one liners and great set ups. While the background plates and background animation is a bit flat and static the animation of the main characters and forefront action is spot on great fun. The voice characteristics sound correct with every day taxi drivers Bugs and Daffy (voiced by Jeff Bergman), along with an array of other well know characters come to life perfectly. Loved Looney Tunes including Speedy Gonzales, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn (who is in charge of the operation), Pepé Le Pew, Marvin the Martian, Yosemite Sam, Lola Bunny (who is very funny), Cecil Turtle, Elmer Fudd appear to name a few. This direct to video from WB Home Entertainment offers a sharp, Hitchcock-ish set up in this Bourne meets Bugs adventure.