Coyote vs ACME Review – They Tried To Stop It. They Failed.
Chumbawamba once sang, ‘I get knocked down, but I get back up again’, and there isn’t a saying that sums up the sheer grit and determination of Wile E. Coyote better than that great song. No matter how many times an ACME rocket backfires, a boulder flattens him, or a cliff crumbles beneath his feet, he dusts himself off and goes again. For years, that persistence has been viewed as a joke by fans, but now Coyote vs ACME asks: what if it’s not actually his fault?
It’s a film that many thought wouldn’t be seen by audiences. Initially shelved by Warner Bros in 2023 as a tax write-off, the film has made a triumphant return after years of campaigning from fans. In turn, giving the film its own David vs Goliath feel that feels wholly appropriate given the film’s plot. After years of failing due to their products, the film sees Wile E. Coyote sue ACME, a massive global corporation, with the help of Kevin Avery (Will Forte) and his team. The problem is, ACME have star lawyer Buddy Crane (John Cena) and a lot of resources to stop them; meanwhile, Wile E. Coyote only has a limited number of signs.
I’ve been really excited about this film for a long time. I loved Looney Tunes growing up, and in particular, I remember borrowing Back in Action on DVD from my mate Alex as a child. Cheers Alex. It’s been interesting to see how the franchise has held up over the years, with the characters feeling in a bit of a similar boat to The Muppets in 2026. Still hugely beloved by older fans, but with limited opportunity to gain new ones. Two historic franchises, but both with questions around where they fit in the modern-day landscape. This film feels like an attempt to reintroduce the franchise for older fans and new ones.
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It’s helped massively by the fact that Will Forte and John Cena are perfectly cast for their roles, playing the slapstick and stupidity effortlessly amongst the other shenanigans on screen. I’ve regularly sung the praises of Cena’s inevitable rise to the top of the comedic crop, and this film is another brilliant example. If anything, I think the film could have utilised his comedic talents more like they do with Forte (undoubtedly the standout of the film). I also really enjoyed Lana Condor, who plays Paige, Kevin’s niece. She played the optimistic foil to Forte’s lazy lifestyle really well and, in turn, played a crucial part in his character’s journey.
Although the film has lots of hilarious moments, it does often feel frustratingly fairly surface-level. It sells itself as a chaotic romp of a movie, but in reality, it’s predominantly a simple courtroom comedy with a lot of callbacks. It’s super fun to see all our beloved characters again (the film is rife with cameos), but the story still often feels safe and inevitable. I wanted it to feel like it was consistently snowballing in madness, but it doesn’t, instead offering us only fleeting moments of chaos. I also found that the hybrid live-action animation styling didn’t always work; as it attempts to cohesively show the cartoons living in the real world, it often felt a bit off.
Coyote vs ACME is undoubtedly a massive success, and completely worthy of being seen by audiences. A lot of reviews will talk about the insane decision by Warner Bros to cancel it, and rightly so. I mean, I still want to see the Batgirl film. Hopefully this film gets seen by the masses and leaves studios with a little bit more trust in their audiences. If not, that’s all folks.
★★★★
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In UK cinemas on August 21st / Will Forte, John Cena, Lana Condor, Wile E. Coyote / Dir: Dave Green / Ketchup Entertainment / PG
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