I adored the Looney Tunes when I was younger. I used to watch the classic episodes on repeat, with a personal favourite being the “Duck Season, Rabbit Season” episode. I was also a fan of Looney Tunes: Back In Action, even if it wasn’t fully animated. The Tunes haven’t had much time in the sun recently, so when I heard that a new film would be released this year, I just knew I was gonna see it. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, directed by Pete Browngardt, is the first 2D Looney Tunes film in forever, but does that mean it’s any good? Only one way to find out.
Daffy Duck and Porky Pig are living a pretty decent life. They have a house that was passed down to them by their adoptive father, Farmer Jim, and can goof around all day, every day. That is, until today, because after their roof gets destroyed, their house is at risk of being condemned. Now on the hunt for jobs to earn enough money to save their home, Daffy and Porky will have to work together to avoid homelessness. But that’s not their only problem, as the launch of an upcoming gum flavour is poised to turn everyone on Earth into mindless zombies, and Daffy, Porky, and their new friend Petunia might be the only ones who can stop the planet from blowing up.
This plot is like one extended episode of Looney Tunes, for better or worse. The frantic nature helps keep you engaged with the moment-to-moment story beats, but it ultimately lacks emotional depth. The story just breezes past big moments in the story and character arcs because it needs to get to the next gag, and most of the time, it works. However, there are a handful of moments where I wish it had slowed down a little. The main example is near the end of the film when Daffy and Porky have a big emotional moment that is resolved in, like, five seconds. If moments like this were allowed to breathe, this plot would’ve been something special instead of just good.
When I think of Looney Tunes, the character that first comes to mind is Bugs Bunny, not Daffy Duck or Porky Pig. Sure, they are some of the bigger names in the series, but not who I would pick to star in a film. Those were my thoughts when I saw that Daffy and Porky would be the main duo, but after I walked out of the cinema, I couldn’t imagine this film without them. Their chemistry does a lot of heavy lifting to compensate for the fast-paced story, as they are just so fun to watch. Eric Bauza puts in phenomenal performances as both Tunes and I could barely tell these iterations apart from the original Looney Tunes shorts. I also enjoyed how Daffy is more goofy and carefree, as opposed to some of his recent adaptations, where he’s just a lazy and incompetent duck.
The rest of the characters are just as enjoyable to watch, and each has the charm that every Looney Tunes character has, including Petunia Pig. That was something I didn’t see coming (very much a niche Tune), but Candi Milo adds an unhinged flair to the character that I couldn’t help but laugh every time she said something out of the blue. The Invader (the alien guy in the UFO) did feel a little one-note, but his character led to a few laughs thanks to Peter MacNicol’s delivery. What got me multiple times was Farmer Jim, voiced by Fred Tatasciore. This dude is a detailed PNG that quite literally moves as if he were being dragged across the screen, and I loved every second. It caught me off guard, and I couldn’t hold in the laughter.
In the year 2025, 2D animated films are becoming rarer and rarer in Hollywood. 3D animation has become the norm, and we’re lucky to get a half-decent 2D film every couple of years. So I was very happy when The Day the Earth Blew Up was shown to be almost entirely 2D, and it was absolutely gorgeous. The animation is top-notch and has that whimsy found in the older Looney Tunes series. The characters all move in fluid and expressive ways, the environments are vivid and varied, and the action scenes are actually really well done. There’s one section in particular that involves Daffy, Porky, Petunia, and a gum monster, and it’s without a doubt the best-animated part of the film. The creature’s movements and the facial expressions of the main trio were fantastic, and I hope to see this level of quality in any future Looney Tunes films (please, for the love of God, make more of these).
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is a much-welcomed return to the silver screen from Looney Tunes. While I had issues with the story, most notably the pacing and character arcs, I adored everything else. If you’re even a little interested in Looney Tunes, animated films, or just want to see a great movie in the cinema, check this film out.
Have you seen The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie? What did you think? Have you seen Looney Tunes before? Let us know in the comments where we can talk about which Tune should get their own film next.
