There are movies you watch because you love the characters, and then there are movies that remind you why you loved those characters in the first place.
Coyote vs. Acme falls firmly into the second category.
I had the opportunity to see an early screening of the film, and the biggest surprise was just how much heart is packed into what could have easily been a simple live-action Looney Tunes comedy. Instead, the movie finds a surprisingly clever way to turn Wile E. Coyote’s decades-long losing streak into the foundation for a hilarious and genuinely entertaining story.
And yes—Wile E. Coyote is still getting destroyed by his own inventions.
Thankfully, that’s exactly what makes this movie work.
A Much Bigger Story Than Expected
At its core, Coyote vs. Acme is a comedy about Wile E. finally deciding that enough is enough.
After years of defective products, failed schemes and increasingly ridiculous injuries, the Coyote takes on the company responsible for supplying his infamous arsenal: Acme Corporation.
What begins as a ridiculous premise gradually develops into an unexpectedly entertaining courtroom adventure.
The film doesn’t forget what makes Wile E. special. He’s still stubborn, overly confident and completely incapable of accepting defeat. But this time, the audience gets to see more of the character underneath all those elaborate schemes.
That extra dimension gives the movie something many Looney Tunes adaptations struggle to find: heart.
The Animation and Live Action Work Surprisingly Well Together
One of my biggest concerns going into the screening was how Wile E. Coyote would fit into a world populated by live-action actors.
The answer?
Better than expected.
The movie understands that Wile E. doesn’t need to be treated like a realistic CGI animal. He needs to remain Wile E. Coyote.
His exaggerated expressions, physical comedy and perfectly timed reactions preserve the spirit of the classic cartoons while allowing him to interact naturally with the human cast.
And when the movie decides to embrace classic cartoon physics, it absolutely commits.
There are moments where you can almost hear the classic Looney Tunes music kicking in.
The Comedy Gets the Character Right
The humor is one of the film’s biggest strengths.
Rather than constantly referencing old cartoons simply for nostalgia, the movie understands the fundamental joke behind Wile E. Coyote:
He is his own worst enemy.
His elaborate plans are always far more complicated than they need to be, his confidence is wildly disproportionate to his abilities, and Acme’s products never seem to work quite the way he expects.
That familiar formula remains intact, but the film expands it into a full-length story.
Some of the funniest moments are the ones that allow Wile E. to simply be Wile E.—standing silently after something has gone catastrophically wrong while everyone around him tries to figure out what just happened.
Those moments feel authentically Looney Tunes.
John Cena Is Having Fun
John Cena is one of the movie’s biggest comedic assets.
His performance as the Acme representative gives the movie an energetic antagonist who doesn’t feel like a traditional villain.
Cena understands the ridiculousness of the world he’s in and plays into it without constantly winking at the audience.
The result is a character who is entertaining every time he appears on screen.
Will Forte also brings a lot of charm to the story, particularly in the relationship between his character and Wile E. Their dynamic gives the movie an emotional center that keeps the courtroom storyline from becoming just another series of jokes.
It Actually Has Something to Say
The most unexpected aspect of Coyote vs. Acme is that beneath the jokes, the movie has a surprisingly relatable story.
Wile E. has spent his entire existence failing.
Everyone knows him as the guy who can’t catch the Road Runner.
The movie takes that idea and asks a simple question:
What happens when the character who has always been the punchline finally decides to fight back?
That’s where the movie finds its emotional weight.
It’s not trying to reinvent cinema, but it does give Wile E. something he has rarely been allowed to have:
a chance to win.
Fans of Looney Tunes Should Be Happy
If you’re worried that the movie doesn’t feel enough like Looney Tunes, don’t be.
The spirit is there.
The physical comedy is there.
The absurdity is there.
And most importantly, Wile E. Coyote is still Wile E. Coyote.
The movie understands that audiences don’t need these characters completely reinvented. They just need to be placed into a story that gives them room to breathe.
That’s exactly what Coyote vs. Acme does.
Final Verdict
Coyote vs. Acme is much better than I expected it to be.
It’s funny without constantly relying on nostalgia, surprisingly heartfelt without becoming overly sentimental, and packed with enough classic Wile E. Coyote chaos to satisfy longtime Looney Tunes fans.
The movie’s greatest accomplishment may be that it makes you feel sympathy for a character whose entire existence has revolved around getting blown up, smashed into walls and falling off cliffs.
After decades of losing, Wile E. Coyote finally gets to be the hero of his own story.
And honestly?
It’s about time.
⭐ Early Screening Rating: 4/5
Best for: Looney Tunes fans, family audiences, animation fans and anyone who has ever felt like the universe was personally working against them.
Bottom Line: Funny, charming and surprisingly heartfelt, Coyote vs. Acme turns one of animation’s greatest losers into a hero worth rooting for.
#IGN
