Product: Who Framed Roger Rabbit [VHS] (1988)
Rating: 5.0
The Story of a Man, a Woman, and a Rabbit
More than 15 years after its initial theatrical release, in this era when computer-generated animation and CG special FX are the mandatory norm, 1988's WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT still stands firm as a groundbreaking, awe-inspiring, and wonderfully entertaining cinematic tour de force. In technical terms, it is the first film to convincingly combine living actors and animated cartoon characters in the same frame and make it look convincing. Thematically, it is a spoof of the noir films of the 1940s and 1950s, a slapstick comedy, and a satire of pre-civil-rights racial relations all rolled into one, sometimes referred to as the first genuine "cartoon noir."Based on the novel WHO CENSORED ROGER RABBIT? by Gary K. Wolf, the script by Jeffrey Price & Peter S. Seaman appropriately replaces Wolf's comic-book and newspaper-strip cartoons with more cinematic animated cartoon characters, but it retains the novel's satiric sociological subtext. The film is set in an alternate-universe Hollywood of the 1940s where cartoon characters (colloquially referred to as "toons") live and breathe and interact with flesh-and-blood humans. The toons are the social minority, and as with the minorities of the real-world U.S.A. during the early 20th century, they are given employment only as menial service workers or as entertainers, and for housing they are relegated to a Harlem-like ghetto (known in the film as Toontown).The story itself follows hard-boiled gumshoe Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) as he tries to uncover evidence that will exonerate zany toon Roger Rabbit (voiced by Charles Fleischer) of a murder rap. Roger became the #1 suspect in the recent murder of Marvin Acme after it was discovered that the famous and wealthy gag-prop mogul had been rendezvousing secretly with Roger's sexy wife, Jessica Rabbit (voiced by an uncredited Kathleen Turner), and playing patty-cake with her. Though Valiant once vowed never to work for a toon again after one murdered his brother, the cynical ol' sleuth turns out to be a bit sentimental and, feeling sorry for the funny bunny, takes Roger's case anyway. But as the gushy gumshoe snoops for clues, he learns that there is more to Acme's murder than just a ploy to frame Roger; he uncovers a conspiracy that could lead to the demise of Toontown and its inhabitants!Alternately hilarious and suspenseful, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT is replete with the kinds of throwaway gags, inside jokes, and one-liners that audiences would expect to see in an old-time cartoon short, while at the same time it unfolds into an intelligent who-done-it mystery worthy of Bogart's Sam Spade. WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT represents the apex of 20th century filmmaking, but it is also wholesome family entertainment that offers something for kiddos and adults alike. This one will still be enjoyed by audiences of all ages long after it becomes an icon in the history books.As mentioned before, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT offers the most convincing mix of live-action performers and hand-drawn animation ever put to celluloid. While this is certainly due in part to the awesome skill and artistry with which the animators have inserted the cartoon characters, excellent performances from the "live" cast members--particularly Hoskins and Christopher Lloyd--also help to sell the illusion of realism. Instead of cartoonishly overacting, overREacting, or pushing their performances too far over the top, the actors adopt a natural, matter-of-fact posture towards the cartoons, and this makes the audience believe that the human characters interact with animated critters on a daily basis.The two-disc "Vista Series" DVD set from Disney Home Video is the definitive home-theater edition of the wonderful film. Not only does it offer a pristine restored & remastered anamorphic widescreen transfer of WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT (by the way, there's also a pan-and-scan version), there are tons of interesting and fun bonus features. These include a really entertaining feature commentary with director Zemeckis, the screenwriters, and other crew members; a making-of featurette; three Roger Rabbit cartoon shorts that played in theaters before OTHER films (just like in the old days, folks); a deleted scene; and lots more!The DVD collection of any serious film enthusiast will certainly contain a copy of this "cartoon noir" fantasy. This is a must-own DVD of a must-own film!