Dazzling Special Effects in Toon Town

Rating: 8/10 (28 July 2008)

A dazzling mixture of live action and animation is this film's selling point, but it helps that it's anchored by a smart script that tips its hat to the detective noirs of the 1940s and by good performances from both its human actors (Bob Hoskins and Christopher Lloyd) and its voice performers (Kathleen Turner is especially memorable as Jessica Rabbitt, perhaps the sexiest cartoon woman in history).
Computer animation has made special effects passÃ©, but at the time of this movie's release, its effects were state of the art, making Disney's previous efforts to blend live action and animation (like "Mary Poppins") look hopelessly antiquated.
You'll have a blast spotting the cartoon celebrity cameos. It's like a Merrie Melodies version of "Around the World in 80 Days."
Grade: A