"Coyote vs. Acme" takes a bizarre premise Wile E. Coyote suing the Acme Corporation over faulty gadgets and turns it into a clunky, overlong film that never quite works.
Based on a 1990 New Yorker parody, the movie spent nearly three decades in development before finally being made in 2022 for about $70 million. Warner Bros. then shelved it, deeming it more valuable as a tax write-off before it eventually reached theaters.
Set in Albuquerque where cartoons and humans coexist the story follows small-time lawyer Will Forte takes on the mute coyote as a client after years of failed Acme products. What starts as a modest settlement attempt turns into a battle against corporate greed and complete with a shady conspiracy led by Foghorn Leghorn and a ruthless corporate lawyer played by John Cena.
The film borrows tones from courtroom dramas like "Erin Brockovich" and "A Few Good Men" but the mix feels off especially given that Wile E. Coyote's character has always been more homicidal than heroic. The plot spirals further with an assassination attempt in Washington, D.C., a Congressional hearing featuring Elmer Fudd and a chaotic chase involving rocket skates and a refrigerated truck.
Fan-favorite characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck barely get any screen time, showing up late and disappearing quickly while the coyote himself remains silent throughout. The script struggles to balance genres also ultimately settling on a message about resilience that feels unconvincing given the character's chaotic history.
Critics gave the film one star out of four. "Coyote vs. Acme" is rated PG and runs 101 minutes is now showing in theaters via Ketchup Entertainment.
