Coyote vs. Acme is an animated/live-action triumph that’s packed with slapstick laughs, genuine emotion, and a surprisingly strong anti-corporate message.

Why does Wile E. Coyote subject himself to the Sisyphean endeavour of trying and repeatedly failing to capture the Road Runner? Nearly a century’s worth of repetitive failure is well beyond insanity. Surely the Road Runner is much too gamey and lean to be a good meal. It’s insanity that I’m even thinking about a Wile E. Coyote cartoon on such levels, yet Coyote vs. Acme implores you to think just a smidge deeper than normal by attempting to unravel the mystery of this aforementioned ‘why’.

Despite literal decades’ worth of documented failures, Coyote vs. Acme wastes no time in finding inventive new ways for the Coyote to fall flat, literally. But when Coyote wearily remembers his most famous failed schemes – many of which are shown in their original animated glory – the detailed 2D animation of his bloodshot eyes and missing teeth conveys an important detail the many decades of cartoons couldn’t (or simply didn’t bother): Coyote’s pain is very real.

Of course, a self-proclaimed genius like the Coyote can’t accept that his failures are a skill issue. Upon seeing a Better Call Saul-esque ad for Kevin Avery’s (Will Forte) small-time lawyering services, he does what he knows best: he hatches a plan.

That plan? To sue Acme for their decades of faulty equipment.

The only problem is that Kevin is a terrible lawyer. He may have Saul Goodman’s schtick for self-promotion, but lacks the actual lawyering skills, much of which is supplied by his eager niece and intern, Paige (Lana Condor). It’s fitting then that Kevin ends up being Coyote’s legal representation and the pair immediately settle into an elevated push-pull dynamic inspired by old silent comedy movies.

Having played lovable losers who are prone to bouts of physical comedy, Forte is the perfect foil to the Coyote. Hell, they’re even a physical match for each other. Both are gangly and decked from head-to-toe in dank, beige-y colours. Only Forte can make nervously drinking a glass of water funny, and only Coyote can make reacting by literally faceplanting in exasperation an even funnier button to the joke. The combination of actor and cartoon goes a surprisingly long way in making us buy into the movie. Kevin needs Coyote to prove to everyone that he’s not a failure. Coyote needs Kevin for his latest plan… and perhaps someone who believes in him.

Comparisons to 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit are inevitable and apt. Coyote vs. Acme treads very similar territory, such as a stunning animation/live-action hybrid presentation, convincingly selling a world where cartoons and humans can co-exist peacefully, and weaving a layered David vs. Goliath legal caper between slapstick antics. The movie holds nothing back against deep-pocketed corporations who like crushing the (metaphorical) little guy, distilling all that evil into a thoroughly unlikeable Foghorn Leghorn (complimentary) and a perfectly smarmy John Cena, both of whom are clearly revelling in being the bad guys. Though the messaging is about as subtle as an anvil being dropped on one’s head (corporations = bad), it functions well enough to get the point across without being overly didactic.

Even if you disregard the legal caper stuff, Coyote vs. Acme is a hilarious movie that not only embraces Coyote’s failures in creative ways, but squeezes in plenty of jokes that feel perfectly in line with the Looney Tunes vibe. There’s a brilliant scene between John Cena (great) and Tweety Bird tinking and tawing away, and definitely keep an eye out for a great blink-and-you-will-miss-it Pepé Le Pew gag.

But zany antics aren’t the movie’s only trick.

The amount of emotional weight that’s unexpectedly Trojan horsed into this zany Looney Tunes adventure is its true triumph, even beyond its miraculous rescue from the movie grave by Ketchup Entertainment. Taking a leaf from the Pixar tear-generating playbook, Coyote vs. Acme conjures up some genuine pathos behind the seemingly basic foundation of the Coyote and Road Runner’s whole dynamic.

The movie isn’t exactly making the argument that the pair are a Harry and Sally-esque pairing, but they’re not simply predator and would-be prey either. Maybe 95 per cent, give or take a bit. It’s enough that when the ending comes along, Looney Tunes fans can feel safe in knowing that the status quo is basically intact while newcomers can leave with that warm, gooey feeling.

It’s enough that the clunky plot scaffolding can easily be waved away and hasn’t been mentioned once in this review until now. Honestly, the plot is secondary to everything else surrounding it. It’s not particularly memorable, nor are the revelations anything interesting. It does what it needs to do, nothing more and nothing less. Hey, at least it’s more than what Acme products can do.

Coyote may not be Sisyphus (and the Road Runner definitely isn’t the boulder), but Coyote vs. Acme assembles a compelling enough argument to earn our sympathy and attention. And we, the audience, have been blessed with the opportunity to watch a piece of animated goodness that was rescued by a (metaphorical) little guy who wanted to stick it to the greedy deep-pocketed corporations. For the record, your Honour, cheering on Coyote’s victory this time around feels damn good.