Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Rating: 7/10 (19 April 2010)

In many ways Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a homage to animation. It's filled with references to numerous iconic cartoons, and many famous characters make appearances: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Donald Duck, Jessica Rabbit, Mickey and Minnie, Dumbo, and a number of others, though admittedly some of their voice work felt a little off.
The film also plays with a lot of the conventions found in cartoons. Sight gags, slapstick, cartoon violence, and one-liners that fall somewhere between witty and campy.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit has fun with it subject matter, reveling in what it is—a zany cartoon noir comedy with memorable characters There's the lovable Roger Rabbit (Charles Fleischer), the pessimistic private eye Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), and the movie's antagonist Judge Doom (in a big change of pace from Back to the Future's likable Doc, Christopher Lloyd). Judge Doom's job description apparently includes jury and executioner as well. All the while I was wondering why Roger couldn't at least get a trial, but I guess L.A. doesn't bother with such trivialities in this universe. Doom has a squad of thugs at his disposal, several gum shoe-accented weasels wearing double-breasted suits and fedoras.
I understand that combining live action with animation was groundbreaking when this came out, and in fact the movie won a special achievement Oscar for it, but it's hard to be impressed in the era of Pixar. Today it all comes off as a little dated, but I suppose it doesn't hurt for nostalgia's sake.