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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Daffy Duck is tired of playing second fiddle to Bugs Bunny. He thinks he deserves better parts, but Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman), the Vice President of Comedy at Warner Brothers, thinks differently and fires the duck. DJ Drake (Brenden Fraser) - aspiring stuntman, son of famous movie star Damien Drake (Timothy Dalton) and Warner Brothers security guard - is assigned to escort Daffy off the lot. Well, along the way, the little guy manages to cause a lot of havoc, getting DJ fired as well.
From there, the out-of-work duo take off on an adventure to find something called "The Blue Monkey" in order to save the life of Damien Drake, movie star and real life super spy, with Kate and Bugs close behind.
The journey takes them to Las Vegas, Paris, and Africa, collecting clues and ultimately, "The Blue Monkey," a diamond that can turn people into monkeys. The Chairman (Steve Martin) of ACME wants to use it for evil purposes.
The mixture of live action and animation has always delighted audiences; from the first time it was used in Anchors Aweigh when Gene Kelly danced with Jerry the mouse. This film spoofs everything and everyone - even Brenden Fraser! And all the popular characters pop onscreen at some time or another. Even the Road Runner, meep meep, has a brief stint.
It's a bit slow at times, and definitely corny and slapstick, but Looney Tunes lovers will enjoy their characters mixing it up with real life actors while saving the world from evil.
The Looney Tunes Toys
The new movie spawned a lot of toys this year. Everyone has his/her favorite character. Is yours Tweety, Bugs, Sylvester, The Road Runner (meep meep,) or Taz? Mattel has some great toys to go with the fun of the film.
Rude 'Tude Taz is a rather obnoxious fellow. This adorable plush Taz sticks out his tongue and when his right hand is placed under his armpit and his arm is raised and lowered, he makes flatulent sounds, all to the tune of, get this, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Only Taz could get away with that! Place his right hand up to his mouth and he makes funny sounds and phrases. He'll gurgle, or should I say gargle, or he'll burp and say "Lemony fresh." He's a charmer, all right. But so loveable no one can resist this little guy. For ages 4+, Taz comes with batteries so you can get his delightful rumblings right out of the box.
Swing and Sing Tweety has the sweet little bird on his own perch. Swing the perch back and forth and Tweety sings his signature song, "Bird in a Gilded Cage." He also says "Wahoo" when he swings. This cutie can be detached from his seat and played with alone. He'll chuckle and say, "Whatcha' doing?" Perhaps he'll check out your house to see if there is a putty tat there. The perch makes it easy for small hands to carry little Tweety wherever they go. You can turn off the sounds and simply have a cute little bird on a perch, if you parents get tired of listening to the tweets. For ages 4+, Tweety comes with batteries.
The Taz Mania Skill and Action Game, for ages 6+, pits Taz against the other characters. Taz is, in effect, in a square cage and players try to get him to break out through their opponent's side by taking out the colored sticks, or bars. Each side has a character - Bugs, Daffy, Tweety and Sylvester. When the mechanical Taz breaks out of a side, that character is out of the game. The name of the game says it all - skill and action. The assembly of the game is easy. Just make sure Taz doesn't break out through your wall.
Many people don't like the fancy plush animals that talk and move. Instead they prefer the good, old-fashioned plain plush animals. Don't worry. There are plenty of those to go around this year. There is a sweet stuffed Tweety, a huggable Taz, a cheerful Bugs, and a delightful Daffy. Each of these animals is between nine and eleven inches tall. No batteries are necessary. They provide the hours of cuddling and love all by themselves. They're recommended for ages 4+.
America's favorite doll from Mattel gets in the action herself with three different sets, for ages 3+. Each Barbie comes with a miniature plush Looney Tunes character.
Barbie Loves Daffy Duck has the blonde beauty paired with that silly duck. Barbie wears low-rise denim pants and a red t-shirt with a picture of Daffy. Her belt buckle also has Daffy. Both Barbie and Daffy wear cowboy hats. And let's not forget her red cowboy boots. Barbie comes with a lasso, which comes in handy when she's out on the range lassoing cowboys. There is a scene in the film that takes place in the Wild West. Well, actually it's just Yosemite Sam's Wooden Nickel Casino. But you know how wild casinos can get!
Barbie Loves Bugs is taken from a French scene in the movie. Barbie sports a green dress decorated with Bugs and the Eiffel Tower and wears the most stylish pink boots. It's not too much of a stretch to think of Barbie in Paris, but Bugs Bunny? C'est la vie.
And the Barbie Loves Tweety set has Barbie wearing a tropical outfit, with a picture of Tweety on the front of her yellow halter-top, and also on her tropical skirt. And she carries, what else but a tropical drink with an umbrella in it. Tweety in Africa? Well, if he sees a putty tat there, you can bet it's going to be a big one.
Each one of these dolls represents a different theme in the movie. Kids will enjoy playing with the dolls and the plush animals and reenacting scenes from the film. But adults will also enjoy these sets as fun collectables. We've all grown up with Looney Tunes. They're part of our lives. How many times have you said, "What's up doc?" Warner Brother debuted the Looney Tunes in 1930 and they have been a big part of the studio ever since.
Since Barbie debuted in 1959, she has been a popular doll for girls of all ages and a staple in the Mattel line of toys. She's had many incarnations. It's only natural she be paired with some of the most successful cartoon characters.
© 2003 Francine Brokaw
All movie pictures ©Warner Bros. Enterprises. All Rights Reserved.
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