Bugs Bunny Superstar

Bugs Bunny Superstar
1975 - United Artists
Directed By Larry Jackson



SYNOPSIS

Orson Welles narrates this documentary that traces the history of Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes.




MY THOUGHTS

Though the documentary aspect is somewhat inadequate, this film provides an entertaining look back at the Looney Tunes and it's biggest star.

Unlike many of the later Looney Tunes clip show-style feature films of the 1980s, Bugs Bunny Superstar features 9 classics in their entirety in between segments of the documentary. Any fan of Looney Tunes would easily recognize most of the shorts and they are truly a "greatest hits collection."
But, the cartoons take up about half of the running time of the film, which results in far fewer stories and facts about the creative process that developed Bugs, Daffy and the rest.

Some of the great legendary directors of the classic Warner Brothers 'toons are interviewed. Bob Clampett is mainly featured here. Friz Freleng and Tex Avery also appear. I don't believe I've ever seen the three interviewed before, so it was a treat. Probably the greatest of the directors, Chuck Jones (though mentioned,) is suspiciously absent... as is the voice of the characters, Mel Blanc. Their absence makes the film a less than definitive look back.
Several home movies (or is it "work movies"?) illustrate what life was like making these shorts... and it seems to be just as 'looney' off-screen.

I would liked to have learned more about the making of these classics, but the info presented, along with several cartoons that are still hilarious after seeing them 100 times, make for a very entertaining package.


The film is a bonus feature in the following boxset:

Daffy Duck's Quackbusters

Daffy Duck's Quackbusters
1988 - Warner Brothers
Directed By Greg Ford



SYNOPSIS

Because he was able to make a dying millionaire laugh, Daffy Duck inherits his fortune. There is one caveat... he must be honest and businesslike or the money will vanish. Daffy forms a paranormal investigations company with Porky Pig and Bugs Bunny.



MY THOUGHTS

An obvious take on Ghostbusters suits the Looney Tunes characters well.

Much like the previously reviewed Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island and the other Looney Tunes films of the 1970's and 80's, this film exists as a framework in which to use scenes from classic shorts. Quackbusters was the final one in the series.

This film focuses on more horror/ sci-fi themed shorts from the 40's and 50's and about a dozen classics are featured.

Sometimes Quackbusters will jump mid-scene from the modern plot right into an old clip. This is occasionally very jarring since the animation style is different (done-on-the-cheap Hanna-Barbera style vs. old school master-painter style) and Mel Blanc's voices are noticeably different over the years (especially Porky Pig.)

I was glad the film only borrowed the concept of Ghostbusters and was not a flat out parody.
The modern plot is more episodic than Fantastic Island and that suits the story better. The writing is also sharper, funnier and the film begins with a brand-new short... but all said, the new stuff still doesn't hold up to the classics.

It's still an enjoyable film for kids of all ages.

Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island

Daffy Duck's Fantastic Island
1983 - Warner Brothers
Directed by Friz Freleng



SYNOPSIS

While stranded on a desert island Daffy Duck and Speedy Gonzalez find a treasure map that leads them to a wishing well that grants real wishes. They turn the island into a resort (a la Fantasy Island) and charge customers $500 to toss a penny down the well and make a wish... but Yosemite Sam comes looking for his map...



MY THOUGHTS

The legendary Warner Brothers animated characters come together but fall short to compare with their classic shorts of the past.

The greatness of the old shorts was in their simplicity of plot (ie - Wiley E. Coyote vs. Road Runner.) This film's plot is very convoluted. Daffy and Speedy first expect to be rescued, then find the map, then follow the map, then find out the treasure is a talking wishing well, then transform the island, then 'de plane' arrives, then each character gets their turn to drop in a coin. I even left some plot out. This is all a very complex, convoluted plan to showcase some classic clips from the good-ole-days of Looney Tunes.

The art of the newer elements is fine, but pales in comparison with the classic clips contained in the film. There are fewer laughs in the script and visuals of the new elements than in an old one-reeler.
However this is forgiven with an excellent choice of older material. Highlights include: Granny as a nurse, tending to the injured Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, and the Bulldog who's always out to get him; and Yosemite Sam must be nice in order to collect a major inheritance, but he must put up with Bugs Bunny.

The film is directed by longtime Loony Tunes and Merrie Melodies mastermind Friz Freleng. He is probably only second to Chuck Jones in terms of his influence on the series... and directed many of the all time classics.
Mel Blanc returns to do 99.9% of the voices here and helps to add a little bit extra to help bring humor to a less than stellar script.

The film pales in comparison to the classic Looney Tunes/ Merrie Melodies shorts, but is still an enjoyable experience, providing you enjoy the wit and sophistication of the great Warner Brothers animated characters.

This film is not yet available on DVD.