(Blooper) Bunny!

Warner Bros. reopened their theatrical shorts department shortly before this cartoon was released, and the new blood (very new; not a single Golden Age animator is credited) does a pretty good job of it. The gags are mostly comments on the filmmakers, plus demonstrations of the shortcomings of filmmaking equipment. The rest is well-timed slapstick, but it doesn't feel like those wacky, hilarious characters are back again. They're funny in a different way. The DVD commentary on this (on the Looney Tunes Golden Collection: get it now!) by either Stan Freberg or Greg Ford, mentions that the animators tried to bring back those classic arguments the stars had; they were trying to override the advertisements and merchandise that broadcast the fact that the characters always had bright smiles at all times and were close friends, a bunch often referred to as "Bugs Bunny and Friends." That betrays the Looney Tunes cast. The animators tried. "Blooper Bunny" is a fictitious behind-the-scenes look at the eventful everyday life of our beloved characters, focusing on the making of the "Bugs Bunny 51st and 1/2 Anniversary Spectacular." The "Spectacular" is only about a minute long, but it seems to have a negative effect on the funny cartoon that is "Blooper Bunny." It seems to unnerve the audience and alienate the characters, not in spite of - but because - the Looney Tunes characters are flashing their most winning smiles. It made me, personally, feel like they were the fake characters from the earlier "Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers," because they almost seemed to have an eerie air about them. It was a bad beginning and climax to an otherwise funny cartoon. But I still think the world is going to miss Mike Maltese. Seriously. "Blooper Bunny" is a fine effort by an inexperienced crew, and keeping that factor in mind I believe this cartoon to be a worthy addition to the Looney Tunes library. But I don't think that unless Chuck Jones Film Productions can keep the classic-style stuff coming without its late founder (Chuck Jones, obviously) that we will never witness the Golden Age cartoons' like again. Stephen Fossati shows great promise. He's been taught amazingly by the master. Let's hope he can go on without his mentor's supervision. Or the Looney Tunes are done. Finished. And I know we're all hoping that doesn't happen.

Although he is no replacement for the late Mel Blanc, Rick Bergman does the voice recreations a lot of justice, and this short, Blooper Bunny, is the funniest and best cartoon since the Golden Age ended back in the mid-60s. Honestly funny and reminiscent of the wacky show-biz humor of the classic "Show Biz Bugs", Blooper Bunny displays the decades long good humored rivalry between Bugs and Daffy Duck.

I liked it.

This was a very original short for the Looney Tunes gang. The actual short was shown in like the first minute. The rest of it shows out takes from the short and how much 'effort' went into filming 'The Bugs Bunny 51st and a Half Anniversary Spectacular'. It was a laugh riot.

This has got to be one of the best Bugs Bunny shorts to come out in the last few years. Everyone knows that the funniest part of any movie is the bloopers, and Warner Bros. brings it out all the way with this "gag reel" of Bugs, Daffy, Elmer and Yosemite Sam messing up their lines and cues while filming a tribute to Bugs Bunny's 51 & 1/2 birthday. It's only further proof that humor is all about timing, and the best stuff comes out when you don't expect it.

I love Looney Tunes, and I love all four characters featured here, so this seemed like a winner. And it was. Not only are Bugs, Daffy, Elmer and Yosemite Sam all great, but when it comes to the voice work Jeff Bergman manages to be both dynamic and stick to the characters' characteristics very well. The animation is absolutely great, very lively and colourful, and the music has a lot of energy and doesn't get annoying no matter how many times we hear the main theme. The outtakes are hugely funny, not just in the fresh writing but also in the sight gags. While I loved the business with the cane, the Eh What's Up Doc to uproarious laughter and Daffy stepping on a floorboard and it hits him, it was the outtake where Elmer's gun goes off and it's real ammunition narrowly missing Bugs and hitting Daffy that really amused me. All in all, a hugely funny cartoon. 10/10 Bethany Cox