Animation is Film Review: The Day the Earth Blew Up is a modern classic

When I first heard about The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, I was caught off-guard. Not because it was being made -- that wasn't particularly surprising, even if the Looney Tunes don't always get the spotlight they deserve so much these days. I was surprised that this was the first ever fully-animated feature starring the characters. That can't possibly be right, right? But it is! The Tunes' previous feature-length outings always involved putting them in live-action worlds: the two Space Jams, Back in Action, and the tragically shelved Coyote vs. Acme. (Actually, the fate of the latter did make me a little surprised this movie was happening at all, but I supposed that's why Warner Bros. isn't distributing themselves -- does David Zaslav hate animation or what??)

After playing like gangbusters at Annecy this summer, I was so excited to check this out at Animation is Film, and it was one of my favorites of the festival. The excitement in the room was palpable. I think a lot of the people who worked on the movie were in the house (including Eric Bauza, the actor who voices both Daffy and Porky Pig -- he's got the range). And then there were the legions of fans who were chomping at the bit to see these beloved characters get a showcase like they've never gotten before. It was impossible to not get swept up in it.

The afore-mentioned Daffy and Porky are the stars of the show. After a hysterical opening sequence showing their youth and upbringing by the barely-moving Farmer Jim (one of the film's breakout stars), we're introduced to the reality of their lives: living in a house that's barely staying together, and unable to hold a job. These aren't ideal circumstances: after their annual home inspection, they're given ten days to fix the massive, gooey hole in their roof (when did that happen??) or they'll lose the house, the one thing they promised Farmer Jim would never happen.

The friends' attempts to find a job and make some money is a perfect example of what makes this movie such a winner. At every step, it's a marriage of old and new, classic and modern. The characters themselves look exactly as they should, but with a fresh coat of paint, that extra little something that's allowed by being a movie being made in 2024. Without spoiling the gag, because it's great, the job-hunting sequence breaks out in a unique presentational style, and finds Daffy and Porky trying literally everything they can think of, even an ill-advised attempt by Daffy to be an influencer. It's one of the film's many moments that plays with expectations and format. There are many such moments: lots of fourth-wall breaks, funny twists in the story, an aspect ratio change. It's a delightful treasure trove of a movie.

It also speaks to the film's boundless approach to its laughs. Its sense of humor can best be described as everything and the kitchen sink, and then more of everything. I always admire a movie that's so relentless in its humor, so joke-dense. This movie barely gives you a chance to catch your breath between laughs, going for broke from every angle. Sure, every joke won't work for every person, but the batting average here is insane, and I loved living in this world of zany physics, sight gags, puns, call backs, and everything else.

Some of the best laughs come courtesy of our third lead, Petunia Pig (Candi Milo), who arguably steals the show. I wasn't familiar with her before this movie -- she's largely been a background character for most of her career -- but man, I need to see more of her. She's such a lovable dork, and has great chemistry with Daffy and (especially) Porky. She's the one who finally helps the guys find a job that they're actually good at, though nothing good can last when there's an alien plot afoot. (Yes, this is an alien movie. Think Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but with chewing gum).

If it's hard to believe this is the first ever Looney Tunes animated feature, I think it's even harder to believe it'll be the last. It's such a home-run of a movie, blending classic Looney Tunes humor with lots of modern twists, I have to imagine there are ideas being bounced around for more adventures starring other legendary characters. I'll gladly buy a ticket for every single one.

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie hits theaters February 28, 2025 from Ketchup Entertainment. They'll also give the film an Oscar-qualifying run later this year.