In the newest installment of the Looney Tunes universe, viewers finally see Daffy Duck and Porky Pig reunited in their debut as leads of a full-length feature film.
In “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” directed by Peter Browngardt, the chaotic duo is charged with thwarting the plans of a maniacal evil alien scientist with the help of Dr. Petunia Pig. Facing both planetary and hometown-sized calamities, the duo must navigate saving the world while trying to find a way to keep their home.
The movie has received an 86% critics’ score and 88% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, and seen praise for its fun and cheesy nature. The movie gives the light, fun and chaotic energy the Looney Tunes franchise is known for.
However, the movie took quite the journey before making it to the big screen.
Brownsgardt, who also created the 2010-2017 Cartoon Network show “Uncle Grandpa,” took the reins of the Looney Toons Franchise in 2020 with “Looney Tunes Cartoons.” Originally, the movie, starring two-time Emmy Award winner Eric Bauza reprising his role as Daffy and Porky, was meant to premiere on HBO Max.
However, it was scrapped by HBO as a part of its internal shakeups, which killed many anticipated projects. Ketchup Entertainment bought the North American distribution rights from GFM Animation in 2024, which allowed the movie to hit theaters.
HBO Max has seen criticism for its deletion of projects, including the completed “Coyote vs. Acme” movie which caused fan outrage. The merger between HBO and Warner Bros. saw a write-off for potential blockbusters including the $90 million “Batgirl” movie.
Although the movie itself is not a box office smash, it is a good start in revitalizing the franchise. The importance of Looney Tunes was not only its ability to show the craziest scenarios while getting a worthwhile message across, but also its ability to connect us to the characters.
In the film, we see Daffy and Porky struggle with adult responsibility and familial relationships. In trying to save their house, they must learn to be adults. This is something every young adult and teenager can understand as their livelihood is changing.
Seeing how quickly and drastically their lives change after their parental figure is no longer in the picture, it is visible to the audience just how much of a whirlwind growing up can be.
Although the movie addresses the topic in its comedic nature, there are moments of tension when Daffy and Porky argue. Porky is the level-headed and responsible older brother to Daffy’s destructive and unhinged behaviors, and there are many times in which Porky is forced to deal with the collateral of Daffy’s decisions.
We see how people can stay friends, technically brothers, even when they're seemingly growing apart in different directions at light speed. While Porky rapidly matures, Daffy seems stuck in his ways despite his visible effort.
The movie pays homage to the wonders of the 2D animation format, bringing a fresh take on the animation style that defined Warner Bros. for decades of legendary content. The movie is receiving praise for its lack of the hybrid-reality, half live-action and half animation, format.
KGET Bakersfield’s Jose Franco is among those who praise the 2D animation style, hailing its use of the format which creates nostalgia amongst adults while adding a new edge to attract a younger audience.
“The difference is that each one of those animated movies was a hybrid that mixed the cartoon characters with real people,” Franco said. “‘The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie’ uses no such gimmick. It is 100% new and uses a very traditional approach to tell the story. In a world where computer-generated approaches have become the norm, this zany and looney nod to a nostalgic past is pure 2D animation.”
Although the movie is a breath of fresh air for the animation industry, it also lacks a lot when it comes to content. The movie is an enjoyable watch but it lacks the wow factor in certain parts. Some viewers believe it is due to the lack of familiar faces, but it may be due to the lack of information-dense dialogue.
There are moments where the dialogue feels like it is lacking. We should be learning something or developing something with every interaction — verbal or nonverbal. It feels like there is space in the interactions of the movie.
In older Looney Tunes films, like “Space Jam” (1996), there was plenty of character in every performance. Viewers could know a lot about a character in one scene. While some of this has to do with the use of cliches and the steering away from that as an industry, maybe the use of common behaviors needs to come back.
The entire film felt like it was teetering the line between being an at-home classic to an animated statement. However, it is a must-watch. It is a great popcorn comfort movie and an engaging movie for a family night out. With the release of this movie, Looney Tunes fans can hope that there is a future for the star-studded franchise after all.
