Das Karnickel Romeo

One might assume that Bugs Bunny's resistance to Slavic rabbit Millicent is based on a previous negative experience that he had with a Slav (the Eastern European bear in "Big Top Bunny"). Anyway, the plot of Robert McKimson's "Rabbit Romeo" has Elmer Fudd receiving from his uncle Judd a an overweight Slobovian rabbit who gets violent when lonely. So, he captures Bugs and tries to give him to Millicent.

If I may interject something. Clearly this Slavic character didn't please Bugs. However, if Uncle Judd had sent a Russian female rabbit, then Bugs's hormones would have gone through the roof! I know this, because while I was staying with a family in St. Petersburg, Russia - I spent the Fall 2005 college semester there - I developed a total crush on my host sister Marina (OK, I'll be totally candid: I still fantasize about her; it arouses me just to think about her as I write this). I like to describe her physically as a cross between Barbara Eden and Julie Christie. My point is that any female Russian rabbit/hare/bunny would have sent Bugs's sex drive into full throttle! Anyway, worth seeing. June Foray does a pretty good Eastern European accent, and the Slobovian clothes actually looked Greek.

Elmer Fudd receives a large package from Uncle Judd Fudd. It is a Slobovian rabbit named Millicent. Judd offers Elmer $500 to take care of her until he returns. She immediately trashes the place. Elmer is advised to get her some companionship. He goes out to trap a rabbit and catches Bugs Bunny.

I don't like Millicent. I get the joke. I just don't like her. It is a Pepé Le Pew situation with Bugs escaping each time. I don't necessarily want Bugs to win against Millicent either. I want him to let her down easy unlike climbing out the window. The ending is pretty good. Maybe they could do that earlier and get Elmer more involved. I don't mind Bugs winning against Elmer.

This cartoon really doesn't deserve the two stars that I gave. I absolutely hated this cartoon!! A fat, ugly, totally obnoxious female rabbit with a Russian accent. Was this supposed to be funny? Bugs Bunny deserved much better! The cartoon starts out on a slightly interesting note. Something about Elmer Fudd's Uncle Judd leaving him some money. I would much rather have met Elmer's uncle, and seen what might have developed that situation. Instead, we get the obnoxious, completely unfunny female rabbit chasing after Bugs. I don't remember having ever seen this cartoon before. I could have very easily done without ever seeing it. If you have Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd together, and they can't salvage the cartoon, that's bad!

Robert McKimson's 'Rabbit Romeo' is a decent little cartoon which is completely stolen by the wonderful June Foray, whose voice work as Millicent the Slobovian rabbit is the best thing in the cartoon. Elmer Fudd (who looks a little bit odd here) is promised $500 if he looks after his Uncle's pet rabbit until he arrives. The rabbit turns out to be an obese, overly familiar lady bunny who longs for company, preferably of the male variety. Elmer tricks Bugs into coming home with him, where Millicent proceeds to relentlessly pursue the terrified rabbit. It's a slightly thin premise which runs dry quite quickly but, despite never hitting the heights of hilarious comedy, 'Rabbit Romeo' is consistently amusing enough to never become dull. Still, the only thing that really sticks in the memory after it is over is June Foray's spot-on voice characterisation. The rest is fairly run-of-the-mill stuff and not especially conducive to repeated viewings.

June Foray's voice work with "Millicent" in this cartoon is flat-out hilarious. You have to hear this, to believe it. Working with regulars Mel Blanc (Bugs) and Arthur Q. Bryan (Elmer Fudd) makes this a terrific trio of voices. All three of these people are legends in this business. Look at Foray's resume and biography here at IMDb. It is extensive, to say the least.

Foray makes this one of the best Bugs Bunny cartoons I have ever watched, and I've seen a lot of them.

This story all starts when Elmer receives a huge crate from "Slobovia."

"Slobovia? Who do I know from there," he wonders. Then he reads the attached note: "Dear Nephew, Take care of this rare and valuable Slobovian Rabbit until I arrive. Signed, Uncle Judd Fudd. P.S. I will pay you $500 for your trouble."

The rabbit is not Bugs - it's "Millicent," and she's big and not very attractive. "Well," Elmer tells us, "Looks aren't everything, you know."

Well, it isn't looks that make Millicent unattractive; it's her attitude (although she is pretty funny with that Russian accent and the expressions she uses.) Who becomes the victim of this nightmarish female hare? Yup, poor Bugs Bunny, and this gal has Bugs literally shaking in fear.

How that came to be, and what happens, I'll leave it up to you to catch it, if you can get hold of one of fourth volume of Golden or Spotlight Looney Tunes Collection DVDs. All of them have plenty of offer.....like "Millicent."

One note: the comedy bit with the goldfish is hilarious, an excellent of dark humor.