WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT
A film review by Aaron Fager
Mini review: WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT deals with an animated (i.e., cartoon) rabbit accused of murdering a human being. He is aided by an alcoholic private eye to clear his name. Robert Zemickis and Stephen Spielberg give us a standard but irresistible story and characters. I give this a must-see, A-, +3, and a 95%.
To paraphrase from HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE, "Sneakin' in at the Movies," "This was a great movie. It was filled with stereotypes, but I give it the serious high-five!." If you have ever enjoyed the Roadrunner, Tom and Jerry, Sylvester and Tweety, or any other slapstick chase cartoons, then you will love ROGER RABBIT. If you have ever enjoyed Goofy, Bugs Bunny, Droopy, or any other 'hidden-adult-meanings-but-fun-for-kids' cartoons, then you will love ROGER RABBIT. If you enjoyed the Star Trek episodes dealing with the 1930's and 1940's (e.g., "A Piece of the Action"), or the Christopher Lloyd characters in BUCKAROO BANZAI, BACK TO THE FUTURE, and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, then you will love ROGER RABBIT!!!!!!
I should give a little background before the movie. Boston was definitely 'Dark and Stormy,' but it caught me by surprise, and put me in the mood for cartoon humor with the high winds, the driving rain from out of nowhere, and the lightening which seemed to be chasing me as I ran to the theatre. Anyone who has seen Bugs Bunny run from Elmer Fudd could relate. Especially the episode where he uses the 'Spear and Magic Helmet' to bring down our hero.
This is a great work of art totally separate from the quality of the story. The Toons move through the story just as "realistically" as the humans, a compliment to the artists who do this in much better quality than seen in any cartoons since the time of the 1950's and Chuck Jones. The actors have it much easier. They only have to act in front of the camera with no cues or references. Jimmy Stewart had to do this, and many people have seen people play off of "invisible" actors in BEWITCHED and I DREAM OF JEANNIE, but these Toon/Human interactions are perfectly done, right down to the Toon's effects on human clothing and bodies.
The premise behind the movie is simple. Toons are alive and well and living in Toontown, but work in Hollywood/Los Angeles with humans. Roger Rabbit is a recurrent victim of Baby Herman in their "films," but has had trouble doing his "part" lately. Bob Hoskins (MONA LISA) is Private Eye Eddie Valient, known for doing Toons a good turn until ... ?? And Christopher Lloyd is Judge Doom, the "magistrate" of Toontown, meant to keep them Toons in their place.
The supporting cast is just about anyone from Disney and Warner Brothers that you would remember, and in a version of detente, they all work together in this film. You have:
Disney Warner Brothers
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Donald Duck Daffy Duck
Mickey Mouse Bugs Bunny
Goofy Porky Pig
Dumbo Yosemite Sam
The Broomsticks Tweety
from Fantasia Sylvester
just to name a few. Plenty of others will be easy to spot, plus the references to many more not seen in the film. This is the kind of film that you would *buy* instead of rent as a VCR tape, because each time you watch it, you will see neat little details that you missed the first time. You might even want to buy a few of the old cartoons before going, just to get even more in the mood for the camp, fun, nostalgia, and quality animation. The last time I felt this from a film was in BATMAN, THE MOVIE. And never have I heard the amount of applause after the movie was over. Definitely the best out so far this summer.
My first movie review is now concluded, and I leave you with one of many quotes that will stay with you a while. (There are plenty more visual jokes that cannot be described, can only be seen.)
"Sometimes I can be such a stinker 8^) !"
-Bugs Bunny, in WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT
Aaron Fager, Boston University and The University of Miami.
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