‘Day the Earth Blew Up’ Captures Classic Looney Tunes Humor

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Peter Browngardt’s “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” is an enchanting, humorous, and skillfully produced animated flick that delightfully mines the absurd humor inherent in its original content.

The film portrays the story of Daffy Duck and Porky Pig, childhood companions residing in a farmhouse reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting, teetering on the edge of foreclosure. While Porky manages to secure employment, his unstable friend Daffy, characterized by his lunacy, consistently creates chaos that affects them both.

The first time Porky experiences love, it’s only natural for him to prepare himself, anticipating that Daffy might somehow spoil things for him.

In the meantime, an alien conqueror seizes control of a chewing gum manufacturing plant and embarks on a strange plan to rule the world.

In a subtle yet recognizable fashion, elements from various movies like “The Blob” (1958), “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1956 & 1978), “Night of the Creeps” (1986) and even “Armageddon” (1998) are subtly incorporated, but none of these films are explicitly mentioned, and the satire is presented in a more nuanced way.

Instead of “Compare that to the ‘Pulp Fiction’ reference in ‘Space Jam,’ which was laugh-out-loud funny back in 1996 but feels quite odd today,” you could rephrase it as:

“Just like how the ‘Pulp Fiction’ joke in ‘Space Jam’ used to be hilarious in 1996, but now seems really out of place.

This humor might remind you more of the “Animaniacs” from 1993, rather than the classic Tex Avery, Chuck Jones, and Friz Freleng cartoons that Mel Blanc often voiced. The jokes that don’t resonate are mostly quick, modern references – it seems a bit unusual for Daffy Duck to reference twerking videos on Instagram.

It’s fortunate that the jokes keep coming quickly, so even when one doesn’t work, another follows soon after to make people laugh instead.

It’s quite unusual for Porky and Daffy to be together because Daffy is known for his unpredictable nature, while Porky is simply a stuttering pig. I prefer seeing Daffy with Bugs Bunny, the eternal smart aleck, or Marvin the Martian, who’s truly an eccentric character.

At least the buddy comedy dynamic is firmly in place.

In this context, it can be said that Daffy shines particularly well due to two reasons:

1. We all have a friend similar to Daffy – the unpredictable character who manages to both endear and embarrass us.
2. The storyline heavily relies on Daffy’s self-realization about his tendency to overdo things, and how he might achieve greater success in life if he reflects upon his unique talents.

It’s a refreshingly honest touch in a movie featuring chewing gum that sprouts eyeballs.

In my perspective as a movie critic, a particularly noteworthy moment occurs when Daffy, in an unexpected turn of events, takes the stage in nothing but his birthday suit for an unforgettable, chaotic outburst. The absurdity and humor are off the charts, perfectly encapsulating Daffy’s quirky persona to a tee.

In the year 2025, it’s still uncertain when we will get to watch “Coyote Vs. Acme,” a reportedly fantastic production that was initially planned for release in 2022. This film, featuring John Cena, Will Forte, and Wile E. Coyote (my personal favorite from the Looney Tunes), is an intriguing blend of live action and animation in the comedy genre.

Although I’m disappointed we might not witness the release of “Coyote Vs. Acme,” my spirits are lifted by the fact that an entirely animated, wildly eccentric, and true to its essence Looney Tunes film has emerged in this era dominated by computer-generated imagery (CGI) animations.

As a child, I eagerly waited for “The Looney Looney Looney Bugs Bunny Movie” (1981) to play on HBO, and I loved it when it did. However, looking back, that movie, along with its successors, were primarily collections of the top cartoons broadcast during Saturday mornings.

I still enjoy “Space Jam” but couldn’t stand the sequel.

As a fan, I must say that since “Coyote vs. Acme” appears to be in a temporary holding pattern (or perhaps just a well-hidden spot, as some whispers suggest), it’s fair to call it the best Looney Tunes movie we’ve seen thus far. Porky Pig and Daffy Duck have truly outdone themselves in creating a hilariously heavenly experience for us fans.

Should another Looney Tunes animated buddy comedy be on the horizon from Warner Bros. Animation, I eagerly anticipate a collaboration between the vibrant characters Yosemite Sam and Pepe Le Pew. These eccentric personalities have always captivated me, and I’d relish the chance to see them in any project together.

This film sparked my thoughts about the peculiarity of chewing gum – something that’s existed in various forms for hundreds of years, yet involves creating flavorful sheets to be chewed only to transform into a tacky, stale mess once discarded.

Gum often finds its way into my shopping cart at the supermarket spontaneously. It’s odd that we promote something so commonly found unwanted and accidentally stepped on under tables. However, it wasn’t until I watched a movie featuring aliens using pink bubblegum to accomplish their peculiar objectives that I gave gum much thought. Prior to this, I hadn’t pondered its significance as deeply as I do now.

Thanks, Porky and Daffy.

Three Stars (out of four)

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2025-03-14 17:03