Initially shelved by Warner Bros. as a tax write-off, Coyote vs. Acme luckily received a reprieve when the studio allowed the filmmakers to shop for outside distribution. Audiences are fortunate they did. This live-action hybrid absolutely deserved to see the light of day, fittingly mirroring the resilient, never-quit attitude of its silent protagonist, Wile E. Coyote.
After a lifetime of failing to capture the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote experiences a sudden epiphany after seeing an advertisement for cheesy over-marketed attorney Kevin Avery (Will Forte). Realizing there is always someone to blame thanks to Avery’s tagline and that Acme has failed him at every turn—the cartoon coyote hires Avery to sue the mega-corporation. As the duo builds their case, Avery grows to respect the animated coyote’s grit and determination, sparking an oddball yet sincere friendship.
Coyote vs. Acme is the kind of movie studios rarely make anymore, which is precisely why it feels so refreshing. While recent decades have seen live-action hybrid films like Looney Tunes: Back in Action or Space Jam, this project serves as a closer spiritual successor to the masterpiece Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. Though it never quite reaches the mature darkness of Roger Rabbit, Coyote vs. Acme wonderfully balances sophisticated ideas and dark humor within a family-friendly package.
Director Dave Green (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows) brings valuable experience to this hybrid format, pulling off a remarkable directorial feat. However, the film’s success relies heavily on Will Forte’s grounded central performance and the spectacular animation bringing Wile E. Coyote to life. The coyote’s nuanced body language and perfectly timed facial expressions elevate every interaction, beautifully capturing the duo’s mutual frustration and growing bond.
While the film falls squarely on the shoulders of Forte and Wil E. Coyote, the colorful (metaphorically and literally) supporting cast brings a lot of fun to the table. Avery’s plucky, eccentric co-workers—led by Paige Avery (Lana Condor)—deliver plenty of reliable side laughs. John Cena is the perfect blowhard rival attorney Buddy Crane at Acme Corporation, perfectly paired with his equally arrogant client, executive Foghorn Leghorn. And along the way audiences will have a blast running into numerous animated characters from over the years portrayed by voice acting legends the likes of Eric Bauza, Jim Cummings, Candi Milo etc.
Another fascinating element of the film is its unique approach to the existence of animated characters. Unlike Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, where the characters are famous actors, here they simply coexist with humans as regular members of society. When everyone’s favorite carrot-chomping Looney Tune makes an appearance, the lack of a grand reaction from any of the characters highlights the lack of celebrity coexistence between human and cartoon. While toon civil rights serve as the central driving force of the plot, any potential sequels would benefit from exploring the deeper societal origins of these animated citizens
The film’s superb cinematography and visual effects seamlessly immerse the audience in its world. There is never a moment where the animated characters look out of place, nor do the live-action actors ever appear disconnected from their cartoon counterparts. This technical precision paves the way for spectacular action sequences—particularly a thrilling car chase—that cleverly leverage classic cartoon logic to raise the stakes.
However, all that flash and spectacle would mean little without a strong emotional core—and Coyote vs. Acme has plenty of heart. Both Avery and Wile E. struggle with their identities, growing less confident in their choices as the true depth of the Acme case unravels. Ultimately, the story’s climax is surprisingly moving, serving as a powerful testament to friendship and the beauty of never giving up all of which justifies why this film absolutley deserved to be released.
Score: 4 out of 5