Bah, Humduck! (A Looney Tunes Christmas)

“What do I look like, an ATM?”

Merry Christmas to all who visit my humble blog! With Christmas nearby, it is time to talk about this direct to DVD movie.

It starts with our narrator, Bugs Bunny. He declares that even though rabbits are associated with Easter, he still loves Christmas. (Besides, remember the last Easter we saw Bugs? That’d sour anyone’s mood.) He is nearly hit by a limo. The owner of said limo? Daffy Duck. Owner of the Luckyduck Superstore. He has an awesome hover scooter, and not one speck of generosity. He refuses to help a poor, homeless, (Playboy) penguin, and steals the generosity bucket of carolers Egghead Jr., Henrey Hawk, Barnyard Dawg as a puppy for some reason, (?) and Priscilla Pig. (more on this cutie, later.)

Daffy has many employees working at his store. Including Sam Sheepdog, Miss Prissy, Charlie Dog, the Three Bears, a security guard (Gossamar) who is sitting on Santa (Cecil) Turtle’s lap, Foghorn Leghorn, Slowpoke Rodriguez, Claude Cat, Hubie and Bertie, Mac and Tosh, Beaky Buzzard, Hippitey Hopper, and  a (Pete) Puma janitor. (Just like his role in “Tiny Toon Aventures”!) He also has some employees with a bit more personality. Including Elmer Fudd, who works very hard, and is exhausted. Wile E. Coyote, who is constantly hungry, Marvin the Martian who is homesick and wishes to return home for the holidays, (Martian Christmas?) Speedy Gonazales who does wrapping, Pepe Le Pew, who tries to get to know a shopper who looks just like a skunk, (No really. Penelope just has a stripe.) and my man, Porky Pig, his assisstant manager. Whom Daffy shortly demotes to assisstant-assissant manager.

Bugs warns him that greedy people tend to get visited by Christmas ghosts. Daffy has no worry and heads to his office. There, he is visited by his idol, Sylvester the (Cat) Investor. He was the greediest person around, before he was murdered. Daffy now has that title, and is being warned that he must change his ways. He may be spooked, but Daffy is sure this is a prank, and pays it little heed.

After being visited by Bugs again, (He was searching for cheap skates, and was directed up here.) he gets a passage delivered by a Roadrunner. (I have no idea if he is an employee or not.) It is a gift Daffy sent to himself, a godly remote that can do just about anything for his office. His employees then come asking for favors, but are all snubbed. Porky just wants to have Christmas off so he can spend time with his daughter, Priscilla. (Now let me just say, that she is ADORABLE! Tara Strong really knows how to bring in a cuter than cute performance.)  Daffy refuses and demands that everyone come in at 5:00 AM the next day. (Where else are the last minute Kwanzaa shoppers supposed to go?) Everyone leaves discouraged.

Bugs is still there with Daffy as the exits are covered in snow. Daffy demands they separate and soon after, is visited by the ghost of Christmas past. Or rather ghosts. Granny and Tweety take Daffy back to his past, and we see how hard his childhood was. He lived at an orphanage, and was never adopted. Morons. Why wouldn’t you want to adopt the world’s funniest duck? (I said FUNNIEST, not most popular. And for that matter where is that swan? She took him in only to leave him behind?) This does little to change his ways and Daffy just wants to use their powers “Back to the Future 2” style to get more money. He is sent back to the store.

The ghost of Christmas present is played by… Yosemite Sam? I think you could have chosen a better character for that. Maybe switch with Sylvester? Anyways, he shows Daffy how hard his employees lives really are. Another adorable scene shows, that Priscilla wants two things for Christmas, a doll, and for her daddy to spend it with her. (Too. Cute.  Daffy is not convinced quite yet, and just begs Bugs to hide him from the promised third ghost, once he returns.

They reenact “Tom Turk and Daffy” but ultimately Daffy is taken away by the ghost of Christmas future, the Tasmanian Devil. He sees his grave, and learns that his employees are out of jobs, because he tried to will the store to himself. Porky remarks that at least he and Priscilla can spend Christmas together. (I meant she with Porky! She didn’t die yet, sickos!) Being an angel anyway, she leaves some cookies on Daffy’s resting place, (which look hilarious, since they look like him) and wishes him luck, since she knows he’s not in heaven. (*Laughing* Best joke right there!)

Daffy finally resolves to change his ways and the next morning, gives everyone a paid vacation, as well as a rocket home for Marvin, and a personal chef for Wile. (Francois from “French Rarebit”) Even Pepe gets a kiss from Penelope. (Her choice even! She wasn’t bribed!) Daffy sees how much his generosity is going to cost him, and briefly tries to take it all back. That’s when Priscilla offers him a hilarious looking cookie, and calls him “Uncle”. (I wish she’d do that to me.) Daffy remains generous to the delight of Bugs and the ghosts. We end with Priscilla saying our “That’s all Folks!” (Did i mention how adorable she is?)

Overall this short, is nothing grand, but if you are a Looney Tunes fan, you’ll enjoy it.

Personal Rating: 2 for the common folk, 3 for the Looney-tics.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

What? Sure its a Disney movie, but if you know that, than I am quite certain you know that a few  Looney Tunes were actually allowed to cameo in it. I am not going to describe the plot, though, because if you have not seen this movie you should be ashamed. If you haven’t seen it and call yourself an animation lover, (Such as myself,) then rectify your crime immediately. It won’t be a regret.  What I am going to do is just point out the Looney Tunes I saw. If you have seen more please let me know. (I’m noting the character’s actual appearances. Passing mentions and still pictures aren’t fun to find. No mention of the infamous deleted funeral scene either. Just thinking about what could have been makes me cry.)

At Maroon studios: Bugs is hard to spot, but as Valiant strolls through the lot, right before the scene changes to the entrance, you can spot him. He’s on the left of the screen. Then, when the scene changes, you can see the Dodo walking into the studio. He is in his “Dough for the Do-do” color scheme.

At the ink and paint club: The infamous scene where Donald and Daffy duel with pianos. (Playing my favorite music piece, no less.)

Near the Acme factory: Yosemite Sam flies out of Toontown

Toontown: Tweety and Bugs are here. It’s hard to miss them. Wile E. and the Roadrunner can be more difficult, though. Don’t blink as Valiant ascends in the elevator. Their silhouettes, and by extension bodies, can be seen.

Ending: You can see Bugs, Daffy, Yosemite Sam, Tweety, the Roadrunner, Wile E Coyote, Foghorn, Marvin, Sylvester, Speedy, and Sam sheepdog. And of course what kid of movie would it be if it did not end with Porky saying “That’s all Folks!”

Yes I know that Wile E. and the Roadrunner, Speedy, Sam Sheepdog, and Marvin were not around at the time this movie takes place, but if you are going to complain about that, then you should also complain that all the flags in the movie have 50 stars. As for the Looney Tunes vocals,  they were still provided by Mel Blanc. Except for Yosemite Sam, but that is forgivable as Blanc was aging at this time, and he could not yell like he used to.

Personal Rating: 5

Porky Pig Show/Bugs Bunny and Tweety Show

These are two different programs, but both were designed to show the finest short films Warners had to offer. Porky is extra awesome, so why not let him have his own show? The intro showed many people and even some fellow toons going to Porky’s barn to watch some of his finest work.

As for the other show, It spawned from the Bugs Bunny Show and was popular enough to stay on the air for 14 years! The opening cast line remained pretty much unchanged except Hippity Hopper was replaced with Sylvester Jr. and they added Pepe and (thank goodness) Porky. It’s a shame that these classics don’t play on TV anymore. Kids today don’t know what entertainment is.

Personal Rating: (Based on the openings) 3

The Adventures of the Road Runner

Yeah, I know I said I’d take a break from these types of cartoons, but I’m a liar, pure and simple.

Besides, this is not just a regular short… this is a TV pilot! That never got a show afterwards. (Friggin’ stupid thing if you ask me) I have no idea why no one thought this would not be a good show, but at least the pilot is still awesome.

After a few gags, the coyote starts talking and telling us that he films everything he does, so he can analyze them, and figure out his mistakes. We also see that this pilot is also being watched by Ralph Phillips and his unknown friend. Ralph says that he feels like sometimes hes a roadrunner, and tells his friend of other things he imagines himself as, as “From A to ZZZZZ” plays.(So, was this going to be a sampling of ALL of Chuck’s best work?)

After that, they also get an answer as to why the coyote wants the Roadrunner so much. (After such an explanation, I think I really want to eat one too) Its funny, the bridging sequences are original, and its a Looney Tune. What’s not to love?

Personal Rating: 3

Whoa, be-gone!

“one (1) giant rubber band (for tripping road-runners)”

For once, the coyote is not chasing the bird on foot during the opening credits. Instead, he is riding a rocket after the mouth watering morsel. Coming up to a tunnel, he hits his head as the rocket keeps chasing the bird. It turns around and comes back, and the coyote just barely dodges it. (He gets hit by a truck, instead.)

In the following gags, he falls off a cliff not once but thrice! He decides to erect a trampoline to catch him just in case it happens again. (He falls right through it) One more gag deserves mention, he tries to roll down a wire using a wheeled helmet, but the wire snaps and he falls. The ends of the wire land on him and a telephone wire. He purchases some tornado seeds but the squirt gun he is using leaks and a tornado carries him away into an abandoned mine field.

Personal Rating: 3

Zoom and Bored

“More free bird seed”

During another one of their never ending chases, the Roadrunner leaves an awful lot of smoke in his wake. So obviously, the coyote does not notice the ground has run out and he falls. He climbs up again, and as soon as he makes it, the bird startles him into falling again. Then as he walks away, it comes up behind, scares him again, and he jumps into a rock.

Following some book instructions, he prepares a hole with a jackhammer. It is very powerful, and he keeps feeling aftershock. He uses this to his advantage and destroys the book this way. After building a brick wall (and experiencing another shake) he is shocked to see another coyote’s rear on the other side. It copies everything he does, so he rolls some TNT at it, only to find out that it’s still him. (Gotta love cartoon logic)

More gags ensure, (including one with angry bees) and he ultimately fires a harpoon gun that also is wound around his leg and he gets launched. After a wild ride, he’s bruised and whimpering near a cliffs edge. The Roadrunner appears, but doesn’t scare him this time. He lets us know that he hasn’t the heart.

Personal Rating: 3

Scrambled Aches

“Dehydrated Boulders”

Sorry for not updating, even though I had plenty of time. Spring cleaning was brutal. Anyways, sit back and enjoy our latest Wile E. Coyote cartoon post.

While chasing the Roadrunner for the umpteenth time, (and falling off a cliff) the coyote uses a fake leg that he aims to trip the bird with. The bird runs by so fast it twists, and when the coyote sets it down, he twists. Continuing on with his clever contraptions that he builds; he makes one with a sail, roller skates, and a fan. He can’t steer it apparently since he goes through a lake and off a cliff.

Now up high, he throws an anvil. The bird stops short and the anvil keeps falling and lands on some telephone wires and back up. (Don’t worry. It does not hurt the coyote, it just severs the cliff he’s on.) He sets up a miniature steamroller and it chases the bird. It takes a detour to avoid the roller, and ends up in a cannon. After it fails to ignite, Wile E. looks inside to see what looks like a train. Figuring its just one of the birds pranks, he keeps looking only to get hit by a cannonball, with the bird on top. As he walks away fuming, the steamroller appears. Before he’s clobbered he lets us know it’s the end.

Personal Rating: 3

There they go-go-go

“?”

Wile E. Coyote is preparing a delicious feast: a turkey made of mud. After it cooks, he finds he can not eat it and proceeds to toss it into a mud trash can. Cue object of desire. Lunging with a spear (crashes into road) and using a pop-out gun (comes out too far, thus shooting him) are both nothing new. Then he makes some really cool mace copter! That lands on him.

He deploys a ladder for use as a bridge, but cuts it partly so it will break. When he sees the Roadrunner above him, he grabs the ladder and prepares to climb, only for it to snap in half. Eventually he sets up a trap where various boulders will be emptied onto the bird, but they are packed in too tightly. He pokes them with a stick before he realizes what he’s doing. CRASH!

Personal Rating: 3

Gee Whiz-z-z

“Egad!!”

While Wile E is chasing his prey, the bird makes a sharp turn just to confuse the canine. (Remember this trick.) The coyote shoots a gun, but the bird actually outruns the bullet. He holds up a steel plate but the bird runs through it. (I think he took the coyote’s body too.) Wile E tries a bat man’s (not Batman) outfit and surprisingly, it works. If he had only looked where he was going…

He makes use of his artistic side and paints a “bridge out” scene. The tunnel gag goes in reverse now, with the bird running through it and the coyote running off it. As a last resort, Wile E rides a jet engine and nearly catches his prize. It pulls the same sharp turn trick though and the coyote falls off a cliff. As he falls he asks that the cartoon end before we see his impact I suppose that’s fair.

Personal Rating: 3

Guided Muscle

Acme Grease

Ahh, lunchtime. Today the coyote is stewing up a delicious can. Too bad he can’t bring himself to actually eat it. Especially when there is better game to hunt. Turning himself into an arrow works until he launches himself into a cactus and off a cliff. He sets up a slingshot attached to a red fuzzy cactus (?) but it does not launch until he does not want it to. He tries firing a cannon, but it shoots him back into a cliff wall before shooting himself in the head.

A wrecking ball just makes the tree it’s attached to fall on him, and when he greases the road, the Roadrunner just mocks him by skating. He thinks tarring and feathering would work, but did you know roadrunners are already feathered? Finally, he buries some dynamite but the bird causes him to run over it just as it detonates. Frustrated, he quits his cartoon job, and and pulls out the “That’s all, folks!” card.

Personal Rating: 3