Just so...so bad

Excellent, a Must See

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

"The Million Hare" is a Warner Bros. short film from 1963 directed by the famous Robert McKimson and starring the voice talent of the even more famous Mel Blanc. This one already had its 50th anniversary a couple years ago and, even if others may think differently, I believe that this little movie is evidence of Looney Toons still going strong in the 1960s. Sure there could have been more wit, but the chaotic and slapstick comedy is still working nicely and pretty funny on some occasions, plus the ending is kinda entertaining. Poor Daffy! It is about two pals going against each other in a race to a television studio, so the winner gets one million bucks. Will our two heroes' friendship survive this race. Watch for yourself. I enjoyed it and give it a thumbs-up. Certainly worth seeing for cartoon lovers.

. . . and being a nice (or subtle) meanie. This "Merrie Melodies" animated short, THE MILLION HARE, does an excellent job of doing just that. Daffy Duck, staying "on vacation" (From what? Quacking?) at "friend" Bugs Bunny's home in the far boondocks, deftly models what being a mean meanie is all about. He steals his host's motor boat. He sets off an avalanche in Bugs' path. For Daffy's big finale, he snatches Bugs off the top floor of a high-rise, and gets him all cut up in an antique glass shop. Meanwhile, Bugs' interactions with Daffy are far more subtle. He accidentally-on-purpose sabotages his own boat. He puts PES (Performance Enhancing Springs) on his feet. Daffy falls off two cliffs and a high bridge on Bugs' watch. So Bugs remains the "good guy," while playing the part of a nice meanie to the hilt. Forced by his HAREless devious nature into becoming the mean meanie, Daffy continually self-implodes, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at the very end. The moral of this story? Good guys may finish last, but bad guys pretending to be good will win most of the time.

Lesser Bugs & Daffy short, made during the DePatie-Freleng period and directed by Robert McKimson. The plot involves a TV game show called "Beat Your Buddy." The premise of the show is that the announcer draws the names of two buddies and the first one to make it to the studio wins a prize. Not surprisingly, the announcer draws the names of Bugs and Daffy, who are watching the show at home. The two race to the studio, sabotaging each other along the way. The animation is colorful but flat with a sketchy style that I don't care for. The music, by Bill Lava, is generic and uninspired. The voice work is solid but I would expect no less from the great Mel Blanc. None of the gags are particularly funny and, worse, there are no good lines for Bugs or Daffy. The final joke is just dumb. Really this feels very tired and forced. I mean, it's just six minutes of your life so what's the harm, but don't expect much.

I am a big fan of the Looney Tunes cartoons, and particularly of Bugs and Daffy. However, The Million Hare didn't entirely work out. Granted, there are worse cartoons(ie. Devil's Feud Cake, See Ya Later Gladiator), but The Million Hare is light years from being up there with the best. Bugs(not entirely sure about his greedy side though) and Daffy are both great, especially Daffy, and Mel Blanc's voices are excellent. The animation while not amazing was pretty decent particularly in the colours and the music has a good amount of energy. They're not the problems. It's the writing, story and pacing that bring The Million Hare down. The story is predictable and is never quite sure of what direction genre-wise it wants to follow, and the writing feels tired and flabby, at best there may be the odd amusing line but that's it, while the cartoon feels rather pedestrian in the pace. All in all, disappointing but watchable. 5/10 Bethany Cox