The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie Review: A Delightful Journey Through Revamped Nostalgia

      Looney Tunes has been around for nearly a century. Leon Schlesinger, along with animators Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising, created their inaugural short, Sinkin’ in the Bathtub, in 1930. Nearly 100 years later, the only feature films starring Looney Tunes—aside from theatrically released compilations—include two Space Jams, 2003’s Looney Tunes: Back in Action, the sadly unreleased Coyote vs. Acme, and the newest release: The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.

      Directed by Peter Browngardt, this film is quite delightful. It draws inspiration from 1950s sci-fi B-movies and features classic Looney Tunes characters Porky Pig and Daffy Duck (voiced by Eric Bauza). The Day the Earth Blew Up begins with a UFO landing on the roof of Porky and Daffy’s decrepit house (left to them by their surrogate father, Farmer Jim) just before it crashes. Shortly afterward, the craft infects a local scientist (Fred Tatasciore) with a zombie-inducing goo. Before long, this goo ends up at a gum factory where Porky and Daffy are working in a desperate attempt to save their cherished home from demolition.

      As the entire town—and soon the whole planet!—turns into gum-zombies, complications arise when Porky develops feelings for his colleague at the factory, Petunia Pig (Candi Milo), straining his longstanding friendship with Daffy. At the same time, The Invader (voiced by Peter MacNicol, who delivers great voice work) cackles from his spaceship as his plan for world domination unfolds. The film’s funniest moments stem from The Invader’s reactions to the blunders happening around him.

      The story unfolds at a rapid pace, only slowing down for well-placed music cues (standouts include R.E.M. and Bryan Adams) and brief, enjoyable flashbacks. A particularly thrilling scene occurs mid-movie, showcasing Porky and Petunia battling zombies until a mistake by Daffy forces them to flee. Browngardt clearly has a deep affection for these characters (he is the executive producer and creative director behind Max’s Looney Tunes Cartoons) and effectively crafts (and resolves) genuine conflict within the narrative. Amid the slapstick humor, meta-commentary, and bathroom jokes, the plot carries stakes, and there's a real concern for the fates of Porky and Daffy. This sentiment is enhanced by the fact that many viewers likely grew up with a fondness for these characters, even if just through cultural influences.

      While the film is clearly aimed at children of all ages, it possesses an edge reminiscent of Looney Tunes Cartoons (and, frankly, much of the Looney Tunes legacy) that makes it feel slightly scary and more thrilling than anticipated. Although the ending loses some of its impact and moves almost too quickly, it doesn’t detract from the experience—The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is an enjoyable nod to nostalgia. Its success raises the question: why haven’t we seen more than ten theatrically released Looney Tunes films by now? Let’s hope this marks the beginning of many more to come.

      The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie premieres in theaters on Friday, March 14.