I admit, it has been some time since I dug out any of my Golden Collections of Looney Tunes shorts, but I have a great affinity for the classic Warner characters Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and others, like a couple of my favorites, Taz and Marvin the Martian. The thing with the Warner characters is that whenever they try to do something new with any of them, the end result is ultimately a letdown. Take Looney Tunes Back in Action for example. I am pleased to report that Bah, Humduck! is nowhere near that level, even if it doesn't reach the level of its classic predecessors.
If you couldn't guess, this is a take-off on the classic Charles Dickens tale, A Christmas Carol. This version features Daffy Duck as the Scrooge of this tale. He is the owner of the Lucky Duck department store, and he rules with an iron fist. He is out to make as much money as possible, taking advantage of the season. His Bob Cratchit is Porky Pig as the assistant manager, while the rest of the store is staffed with a roster of Warner characters, from Marvin to Speedy Gonzalez to Elmer Fudd to Wile E. Coyote. Meanwhile, Bugs Bunny plays a character that doesn't correspond to a Dickens character, but is always present to add a little bit of levity during Daffy's journey of self discovery.
The story is familiar enough that I shouldn't have to go through the plot. It has had so many iterations that we all should know it, even if we have not read it. The fun lies in the execution and inventiveness of whatever gimmick it is saddled with. In this case, they layer in as many of the Warner classics as they can. That gives it a little fun as you try to recognize all of the cameos that wind their way through the narrative.
It is easy to have fun with this one, especially if you have any cartoon loving, sugar munching kids in the vicinity to add some running commentary. Despite it being easy to enjoy, it is not a project without its problems. The biggest among them is the voice acting. Some of the voices just don't sound right; nobody has ever been able to replicate what Mel Blanc was able to do. Bugs in particular just doesn't sound right — he is voiced here by Billy West (Buster Bunny of Tiny Toons and The Crypt Keeper of Tales from the Crypt).
Article comments
1 - Douglas A. Waltz
I watched this mindless, badly animated piece of dreck and can not for the life of me figure out why you would give it any kind of recommendation whatsoever? Warner Bros. needs to stop raping the past that they have proven time and time again that they are unable to replicate and move on with their money grubbing lives.
This disc does, however, make for a fine drink coaster at my house. And the kids seem to think it's fun to throw around for the dog to chase.