"Bugs and Daffy ‘Tune’ In"
by Scott Mantz

"Looney Tunes: Back in Action"
Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman,
Steve Martin
Directed by Joe Dante

What's cookin', Doc? It's rabbit stew for Jenna Elfman and Bugs Bunny in "Looney Tunes: Back in Action"

Let’s face it, folks. When it comes to under-rated and overlooked sequels that are far more entertaining and imaginative than their predecessors, none top the list more than (drum roll, please) 1990’s "Gremlins 2: The New Batch."

Huh? You mean, you’ve never seen "Gremlins 2"? Well, then you’re missing out on one of the most ingenious and twisted sequels of all time (seriously!). In fact, Joe Dante’s direction is so witty, over-the-top and timely, it almost resembles a wacky Looney Tunes cartoon without any of the classic Looney Tunes characters (except during the clever opening credits).

With a calling card like that, it was only a matter of time before Dante got his chance to take a shot at the real deal, and to that extent, "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" couldn’t have been in better hands. Smart, laugh-out-loud funny, and far superior to 1996’s disappointing "Space Jam," "Back in Action" is a charming, wildly entertaining, 14-carrot action comedy that will please both kids and their Tune-head parents alike.

After voicing his discontent to playing second fiddle to Bugs Bunny for his entire career, Daffy Duck is thrown off the Warner Bros. lot by security guard DJ Drake (Brendan Fraser). When DJ discovers that his famous movie star father (Timothy Dalton) has been kidnapped by the Acme Corporation’s nefarious Mr. Chairman (Steve Martin), DJ and Daffy hit the road in a desperate attempt to save him. Meanwhile, Bugs and Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman), Warner’s VP of Comedy, are hot on their tail in an effort to get Daffy back, because, after all, what good is that wascally wabbit without his longtime comic foil?

In addition to "Gremlins 2," Joe Dante demonstrated his Looney-like comic sensibilities in films like 1993’s "Matinee," 1998’s "Small Soldiers" and, especially, the third segment of 1983’s "Twilight Zone: The Movie." Having said that, "Back in Action" still owes more to 1988’s groundbreaking live-action/animation hybrid "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" than it does to any of the classic cartoon shorts. Not only is the film packed with guest spots from just about everybody in the Looney Tunes catalog, but there are also plenty of nods to other classic films as well (many of which will fly over the heads of the kiddies).

To be fair, for every joke or scenario that works, there are plenty that don’t. Standout scenes include an ingenious setting at the Warner Bros. commissary, a brilliant black-and-white reenactment of the "Psycho" shower scene (courtesy of our very own Bugs Bunny) and a foot chase through the various paintings on display at the world famous Louvre. On the other hand, the plot is a bit convoluted and there are plenty of scenes that fall flat (particularly a showdown at Yosemite Sam’s Las Vegas casino), but even those are fast-paced enough to keep the kids entertained.

Where NBA icon Michael Jordan looked understandably awkward acting alongside imaginary characters in "Space Jam," Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman and Steve Martin seem right at home with their animated co-stars and have great comic timing. Fraser is no stranger to special effects-heavy movies after starring in those top-grossing "Mummy" films, and he has great chemistry with Elfman, whose flair for screwball comedy instantly recalls Lucille Ball at the top of her game. Additional kudos to an almost unrecognizable Steve Martin, whose appropriately over the top performance as the evil Acme Chairman steals the show.

November is bound to be a very crowded month at the multiplexes, with "The Matrix Revolutions," "Master and Commander," "The Cat in the Hat" and "The Haunted Mansion" all due for their cut of the box office pie. Since "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" is such a pleasant surprise (and much better than the weak trailers make it out to be), it would be a real shame if it got lost in the shuffle. So do yourself – and your family – a favor, and check it out. And when it’s over, that’s not all, folks…you still have plenty of time to run to the video store to check out "Gremlins 2."

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