Foghorn Leghorn (my favorite Looney Tunes character) is a military general in charge of some operation to obtain a flower that blooms once every 200 years. Apparently it is the key to some sort of weapon. Then it vanishes in a flash and the credits roll. Then we get to Lola Bunny as a perfume sales clerk who dreams of creating her own fragrance. Turns out her landlord, Speedy Gonzales went out and got her the flower because he knew she is in to that sort of thing. And we have our conflict.
Bug is a New York City cab driver, Elmer Fudd is an agent for the government, Yosemete Sam is a failed bank robber turned failed bounty hunter. There is some good use of characters, but Lola’s personality is a sort of toned town version of how she appeared on “The Looney Tunes Show” a bit silly and scatterbrained. Bug’s voice isn’t quite right.
The animation is made for television quality, which is too bad, because there are some great background sight gags that could have been made. And for a Looney Tunes stooory you would expect a lot more quick-witted banter. It takes halfway through the film for me to laugh out loud. The musical numbers are not necessary.
I wanted to like Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run more than I did. My kids enjoyed it enough, but it just doesn’t hold up when compared to the classic Looney Tunes shorts. My 12 year old doesn’t want to watch it again, but my 5 year old does. Take that for what you will.
Included on the DVD are some bonus shorts. There is the first episode of “The Looney Tunes Show” and four of the five more recent theatrical computer animated shorts – “Coyote Falls”, “Fur Of Flying”, “Rabid Rider” and “I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat” (though interestingly “Daffy’s Rhapsody” is missing, meaning it is the only short to still not receive any sort of home video release).
Looney Tunes Rabbits Run is more of a kids film than a traditional Looney Tunes film which has broader appeal. It isn’t bad, but it doesn’t live up to the Looney Tunes name.