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DECEMBER 2003


Looney Tunes:
Back in Action & The Barbarian Invasions
by Jan Aaron

For holiday filmgoers who want to take the kids out or get in touch with their inner child, there's Warner Bros. Looney Tunes: Back in Action, a blend of live-action and animation. Director Joe Dante's premise creates a world where cartoon characters blend in with their human costars, and showcases Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as scene-stealers throughout. When Warner studio's tough VP of comedy Kate (Jenna Elfman) fires Daffy, she orders the studio security guard and aspiring stuntman DJ (Brendan Fraser) to boot him off the lot. When this goes wildly wrong, Daffy and DJ end up taking off for Las Vegas to rescue his dad (a self-parodying Timothy Dalton) who is a Warner star and secret agent.

Recognizing her blunder, Kate and Bugs Bunny take off to lure Daffy back.

Reunited, the foursome end up on going all over the world trying to foil the maniacal monkey plot being hatched by Mr. Chairman (Steve Martin), head of the Acme Corporation. Along the way, they meet and interact with a host of other Warner cartoon icons. Of the live actors, Martin impresses the most, although he has limited screen time.

The film strives to entertain kids with nonstop action and adults with inside jokes. A highlight for adults is a chase through the Louvre where the Daffy and Bugs leap into and out of paintings and they'll certainly  get a kick out of some scenes that recall ÒPsychoÓ or show Daffy in a photo with Richard Nixon. For the kids, there's a frenetic pace and some jokes and pranks sure to delight them.

Oscar and Emmy award winner Jerry Goldsmith's score adds just the right notes throughout. (91 minutes, PG)

When the kids are tucked in, take in Denys Arcand's remarkable The Barbarian Invasions, a story of dying Remy that celebrates life, as his friends, a marvelous group of talkative intellectuals, turn his hospital room into a roundtable of delectable chitchat, which ultimately becomes immensely moving. (99 minutes, R)#

For times and theatres of both films, call 212-777-FILM.

 

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