dee.reid
Joined Oct 2000
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In much the same way like any franchise cross-over event, Warner Bros.' 1988 Greg Ford-/Terry Lennon-directed supernatural comedy-horror-themed "Daffy Duck's Quackbusters" is a thematic combination of classic WB Looney Tunes mixed in with "Ghostbusters" (1984). The only thing is, of course, is that it's not really a franchise cross-over, but rather it's a compilation film comprised of classic Warner Bros. "Looney Tunes" shorts mixed in with newly shot animated sequences featuring long-time voice performer Mel Blanc voicing a number of classic Looney Tunes characters for the last time before his death on July 10th, 1989 - less than a year after the film's release on September 24th, 1988.
If you're a young kid watching this movie, you'll get a kick out of the story (especially if you like ghost stories and, well, "Ghostbusters"). You'll also get the chance to enjoy the film-exclusive short "The Night of the Living Duck," which was shot specifically for the film and precedes the main feature. If you're an adult, you'll also get your laughs from the story, characters and cooky situations, but you may be jarred by the glaring inconsistencies in the overall quality of the animation (which frequently goes from the contemporary animation to the older cartoon animation and then back again - sometimes in less than 10 seconds in some spots) and the voice characterizations (which, again, feature older animation spliced together with newly animated sequences with voice performances from two or three decades earlier in the '40s, '50s and '60s mixed in with modern-day voice-over performances, or have older sequences re-dubbed with present-day voice performers).
Honestly, that's the only real downside to an otherwise entertaining though inherently perfect animated venture (because let's be honest here, with the passage of time and the integration of old footage into newly shot animated sequences, tonal and voice characterization inconsistencies are unavoidable).
"Daffy Duck's Quackbusters" has a story-line inspired by "Ghostbusters" and classic E. C. Comics horror stories: Daffy Duck is hired to be the personal court jester of the reclusive dying millionaire J. P. Cubish, who hopes for one last good laugh before he passes on. Daffy is then left with the bulk of Cubish's personal fortune upon his death, which includes the stipulation that Daffy uses the money to provide a service to the community. If he doesn't comply with the terms of his will, Cubish will posthumously reclaim his fortune. So, in turn, he then establishes his own paranormal detective agency - with Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig as his sole employees - and animated hilarity ensues as they encounter ghosts, vampires, evil scientists, possessed dames, and even The Abominable Snowman!
"Daffy Duck's Quackbusters" was a childhood favorite of mine, and it still is. As stated earlier, the only real downside to the whole experience are the jarring transitions between old and new animated footage that will really only become apparent if you're an eagle-eyed/dog-eared adult watching it. It also doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is: a comedy-horror-themed "Looney Tunes" venture. Beyond that, it's my favorite "Looney Tunes" compilation film.
8/10.
If you're a young kid watching this movie, you'll get a kick out of the story (especially if you like ghost stories and, well, "Ghostbusters"). You'll also get the chance to enjoy the film-exclusive short "The Night of the Living Duck," which was shot specifically for the film and precedes the main feature. If you're an adult, you'll also get your laughs from the story, characters and cooky situations, but you may be jarred by the glaring inconsistencies in the overall quality of the animation (which frequently goes from the contemporary animation to the older cartoon animation and then back again - sometimes in less than 10 seconds in some spots) and the voice characterizations (which, again, feature older animation spliced together with newly animated sequences with voice performances from two or three decades earlier in the '40s, '50s and '60s mixed in with modern-day voice-over performances, or have older sequences re-dubbed with present-day voice performers).
Honestly, that's the only real downside to an otherwise entertaining though inherently perfect animated venture (because let's be honest here, with the passage of time and the integration of old footage into newly shot animated sequences, tonal and voice characterization inconsistencies are unavoidable).
"Daffy Duck's Quackbusters" has a story-line inspired by "Ghostbusters" and classic E. C. Comics horror stories: Daffy Duck is hired to be the personal court jester of the reclusive dying millionaire J. P. Cubish, who hopes for one last good laugh before he passes on. Daffy is then left with the bulk of Cubish's personal fortune upon his death, which includes the stipulation that Daffy uses the money to provide a service to the community. If he doesn't comply with the terms of his will, Cubish will posthumously reclaim his fortune. So, in turn, he then establishes his own paranormal detective agency - with Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig as his sole employees - and animated hilarity ensues as they encounter ghosts, vampires, evil scientists, possessed dames, and even The Abominable Snowman!
"Daffy Duck's Quackbusters" was a childhood favorite of mine, and it still is. As stated earlier, the only real downside to the whole experience are the jarring transitions between old and new animated footage that will really only become apparent if you're an eagle-eyed/dog-eared adult watching it. It also doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is: a comedy-horror-themed "Looney Tunes" venture. Beyond that, it's my favorite "Looney Tunes" compilation film.
8/10.