‘The Day the Earth Blew Up’ is Hard to Chew

In a gum-obsessed dystopia, the Looney Tunes’ new adventure, “The Day the Earth Blew Up,” doesn’t chalk up to all of its “Hubba Bubba.”

Directed and co-written by Peter Browngardt, “The Day the Earth Blew Up” follows best friends Daffy Duck and Porky Pig — both voiced by Eric Bauza — as they try to save their house from repossession by getting jobs at a gum factory. After discovering aliens are using the gum for mind control, Daffy and Porky, with the help of Petunia Pig, set out to save Earth. 

Inspired by science fiction movies from the 1950s, Browngardt (“Uncle Grandpa,” “Looney Tunes Cartoons”) aimed to make a 2D-animated movie centered around Daffy and Porky’s friendship.

Unfortunately, while trying to appeal to a new generation of viewers, much of the humor and references fall flat, tripping into a puddle of cringe-worthiness. Many jokes feel out of place for a franchise associated with the ‘60s, with references to TikTok, overcomplicated coffee orders, ride-sharing apps and twerking — eliciting eye rolls rather than roll-on-the-floor laughter. 

At the same time, “The Day the Earth Blew Up” attempts to evoke nostalgia from those who grew up watching “Looney Tunes.” Yet, those attempts also fail to stick as well — flopping for both veteran viewers and newbies alike.  

The instantly dated humor makes sense given the film was originally conceived in 2019 to be released on Max in 2023. However, during production in 2022, it was announced plans for the Max release were scrapped, and the movie was instead shopped around to other streaming platforms, according to TVLine.

Numerous name changes — and a European release — later, the film’s North American rights were ultimately acquired by Ketchup Entertainment, which was criticized by fans for poorly advertising of the movie.

The film’s release also comes on the sudden — and unannounced — March 17 purge of the original batch of “Looney Tunes” shorts from Max, with the streamer citing a prioritization of adult and family content, according to Deadline.

Further comic missteps include a copious amount of sexual jokes and innuendos that don’t fit into the “Looney Tunes” universe, let alone a children’s film. The racy jokes make the viewing experience uncomfortable rather than edgy, as does the sexualization of the only two female characters with speaking roles — Petunia and a home inspector.

The power-hungry alien unoriginally named The Invader is an underdeveloped villain, making it hard for any tension to exist. In fact, the most suspenseful part of the movie was the constant fear of another butt joke being made, way more frightening than the actions — or inactions — of The Invader. 

While an unexpected plot twist in The Invader’s motivations shake things up, its introduction is so late into the movie it feels ham-fisted rather than thoroughly explored. 

Despite some lackluster aspects, the 2D animation charms, maintaining the nostalgic feel of the cartoon with modern animation standards and technology. In one instance, a heat effect from a flamethrower features intricate detail no “Looney Tunes” cartoon could’ve exhibited decades prior, giving the classic aesthetic a new technical flair.  

Differing animation and art styles are present in the film, ensuring the viewer is entertained at all times. One example is the design of Farmer Jim, the adoptive father of Daffy and Porky, which is drawn in the static style of old folk stories. 

“We actually wanted to do set pieces in the film in different styles, especially with Farmer Jim, because there were a lot of styles in Looney Tunes cartoons,” Browngardt said in an interview with IndieWire. “They always pushed the envelope as far as design and aesthetic, and we wanted to introduce that a little bit into the film.”

Most of the visual humor and physical comedy effectively add to the film’s fantastical nature, such as the characters’ over-exaggerated facial expressions and creative, nonsensical slapstick. 

In a stand-out scene, Daffy and Porky’s mischief is on full display as they wreak havoc around the gum factory. Lacking dialogue, backed by a James Bond-esque score and animated in an Art Deco art style, the sequence embodies everything “Looney Tunes.” 

Clever gags like a scroll functioning as a tablet or a fourth-wall break in the closing stretch also warrant deserving laughs.

Another highlight is Bauza’s (“The Adventures of Puss in Boots,” “Muppet Babies”) dual performance as the leading characters. Despite having the same voice actor, Daffy and Porky’s voices sound nothing alike, encapsulating the toon’s easily recognizable vocal quirks while simultaneously highlighting Bauza’s knack for comedic timing.

Although deserving of merit for its fresh take on classic characters, the fun of “The Day the Earth Blew Up” lasts as long as the flavor in a piece of Double Bubble.

“The Day the Earth Blew Up” is in theaters now.