Warner Bros. released “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” on March 14, the first full-length film based on the famous animated children’s TV show “Looney Tunes.” Directed by Peter Browngardt, the film tackles more significant concepts than its predecessor by commenting on present-day society and the importance of camaraderie at the expense of a coherent resolution.
Following their caretaker Farmer Jim’s departure, the nostalgic characters of Porky Pig and Daffy Duck are employed at a gum manufacturing facility to fund their livelihood. When Daffy discovers that the gum has been tainted by an alien in hopes to conquer Earth, he frantically begs people to believe him. For his disturbance, he is labeled hysterical and jailed, paralleling the potential real-world consequences of speaking out against corrupt governments.
This theme of being an outcast is well-developed throughout the film, especially through the love story between Porky and his crush, Petunia Pig. Both have faced rejection from their respective social groups and find comfort within their similarities, fueling their desire to save the Earth. Portrayed through the pair’s dialogue as they get to know each other, “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” ultimately teaches young audiences to use their individuality as a superpower rather than a hindrance.
While the movie delivers a strong message about individuality, it neglects to make Petunia, the only female lead, a well-developed character. When Petunia is first introduced, the camera cuts to Porky’s perception of her, exaggerating features to paint her in a sexual manner. Similarly, the only other female character of note, a home inspector from the beginning of the movie, has an unrealistic hourglass figure — her exaggerated breasts are used as comical relief as she struggles to fit through her car door. Even animals are sexualized just because they are female, which sets a precedent for young audiences to follow by normalizing focus on females’ bodies rather than their personalities.
The lack of development of female characters sharply contrasts the well-thought-out character arcs of the two protagonists. Although both Porky and Daffy are voiced by Eric Bauza, the two could not be any more different. Porky, well-organized and somewhat composed, juxtaposes the clumsy, eccentric nature of Daffy, creating an entertaining duo that clashes and complements each other simultaneously — a key focal point of the plot.
Their differences are explored through their conflict regarding separate plans to save the world, serving as one of the only realistic aspects of the sci-fi film. Daffy wants to be a part of the action, but Porky, believing that Daffy messes everything up, forces him to stay at home and lay eggs — even though he’s a male. Their reconciliation towards the end of the movie is the only emotional scene throughout the film’s hour and a half duration, as Daffy’s self-reflective monologue is relatable to the target audience of young children who are just beginning to learn the meaning of friendship.
To further emphasize the duality of Porky’s and Daffy’s relationship, the filmmakers included goofy montages of the two for comedic relief, and switched the camera to Daffy’s point of view at times to heighten their shenanigans. These musical scenes add visual and auditory variety, but their placement directly after emotional scenes makes the plot confusing and hard to follow.
At a pivotal moment in the film’s resolution, the message is blurred when the soundtrack suddenly switches to a comedic one rather than matching the emotions of the scene. Additionally, the characters often break the fourth wall and acknowledge the audience directly, much like the original series, but leaves them in a state of confusion rather than encouraging laughter as intended. The movie’s desperate attempt to remain lighthearted and consistent with the TV show ultimately destroys the cohesiveness of its plot.
While the protagonists try to save the Earth, the film fails to rescue the audience from its sorry excuse for a conclusion. The film introduces a plethora of conflicts at the beginning, including Porky and Daffy’s struggle to restore their house, but neglects them in favor of developing the storyline of the alien’s takeover attempt. However, the ending was far too convenient, finding a perfect solution to every minute conflict that makes even less sense than Daffy laying eggs. The main plot was solved by revealing that the alien’s motive to capture Earth is to drink boba tea, a random addition that conveniently maintains the lighthearted, comedic theme of the movie yet fails to bring the film to a coherent conclusion.
The motives of the screenwriters are equally unclear, as “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” symbolizes hard-hitting topics about society, yet desperately aims to preserve the cheerful nature of its predecessor, Looney Tunes. Ultimately, the development of characters like Daffy and Porky, along with the unique camera angles utilized in the movie, do not make up for the incoherent and haphazard plot, leaving audiences feeling disoriented and looney, as the film’s title suggests.
RATING: 2.5/5
