This film is what truly started the re-birth of animation in the U.S. and is one of the best films to come out of the “Me” decade. This visually inventive tale creates a unique world filling it with great characters. And for anyone who loves animation this is the best combination of toons and live-action that has ever been done.
Set in a world where cartoons live alongside humans, Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer, DICK TRACY) is a big movie star, but he starts fouling up onset after he suspects that his wife Jessica (voiced by Kathleen Turner, BODY HEAT) is cheating on him with the owner of Toon Town, Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye, CAT BALLOU). Studio exec R.K. Maroon (Alan Tilvern, LOVE AND DEATH) hires PI Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins, MONA LISA) to take some pictures of Jessica with Acme, but when Roger is framed for Acme’s murder Eddie gets wrapped up in clearing Roger and keeping the rabbit away from Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd, BACK TO THE FUTURE). Along to aid Eddie and Roger is Eddie’s girlfriend Dolores (Joanna Cassidy, TV’s SIX FEET UNDER).
The film works on two levels. The film noir plot carries the audience along, intrigued in the conspiracy. The picture also works as a wonderful homage and satire of classic Hollywood – both live-action and cartoons. This landmark occasion of bringing Disney and Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes characters together was amazing and will never happen again. Even though part of the deal made it that if Mickey was on screen so was Bugs and for every line of dialogue from Donald Duck, Daffy got the same amount, the film never once forces the cartoon characters into scenes just for the sake of having them make appearances. They are characters within this universe.
The dialogue is wonderful with a classic Hollywood-type wit. A crucial part of the film’s success lies on whether Roger is a likeable character. If he wasn’t the audience would have been turned off and wished the film starred one of the other classic characters. Fleischer creates a classic cartoon persona that is probably as well known as some of the classic Disney and Looney Tunes characters. Jessica Rabbit brought sex to American mainstream animation like never before. She’s got one of the best lines in film history – “I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.”
One can’t talk about this film without mentioning the amazing special effects. Live-action actors and cartoon characters have never been more convincingly combined into the same film. In my opinion, this film is director Robert Zemeckis’ best and he also directed FORREST GUMP. It’s a family film that is smart and enjoyable for the whole family, even if the family doesn’t contain any kids in it. It harkens back to the best that classic cartoons and Hollywood were and can be.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
