Winner of four academy awards in 1988, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is one of the most entertaining films you'll ever see. The film is a mind-blowing combination of live action and animation, and combining that with a gripping hybrid of a film-noir/comedy story with nuances of social commentary. It's such a smart film and a well-executed one in so many ways. Director Robert Zemeckis (of Back To The Future fame) has crafted a masterpiece, and it's a film you'll not soon forget.

     The plot involves a grizzled Hollywood detective named Eddie Valiant (played wonderfully by Bob Hoskins) is investigating the murder of Marvin Acme, the owner of Toontown where all of the worlds cartoon characters claim residence. Eddie Valiant is a hard drinker battling some inner demons from his past (his brother was murdered by a crazed toon on a case years back), while courting a lady bartender named Dolores (played by Joanna Cassidy). Eddie is clearly a flawed protagonist, which makes for some interesting moments in the film as he tries to fight through those demons.

     The film is a feast for the eyes. The seamless mix of live action and animation is certainly the films biggest draw. What makes it so good is that it really is so flawless - the cartoon characters all interact with the human characters as if they are equals, as if they are really living, breathing creatures. This film is just so convincing in this aspect. The main cartoon protagonist is Roger Rabbit, an original creation made for the film, is a big cartoon star accused of the murder of Marvin Acme. Voiced by Charles Fleischer, Roger Rabbit is fun and just as wacky as any other cartoon creature - kids will adore him. And that is another appeal of this movie; it should please both adults and kids alike. It's considered a comedy, but has a number of serious moments, but it never gets too heavy and is rather balanced throughout. There are plenty of sight gags and silly moments that kids will love, and adults will enjoy the somewhat mature atmosphere and the innuendo as well.

     I feel that this movie has such a broad appeal in general. Not to just the family as a unit, but film-lovers, film-buffs will appreciate it too. The nostalgic setting alone should draw an audience (set in 1947 Hollywood). It doesn't have a cheesy overly-colorful retro look (like Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy), but a very realistic one - and it's just awesome to see. The vast list of cartoon character cameos also is another big plus. From Bugs Bunny to Mickey Mouse, this movie has 'em all, and many of the Warner Bros. characters are voiced by cartoon legend Mel Blanc - which is needless to say, great stuff. The musical score is also amazing - ranging from a cool jazz sound, to some uproarious action music, to some boisterous cartoony themes that befit all the settings so appropriately. It also contains some terrific performances by its live actors: the aforementioned Bob Hoskins is excellent, as is Christopher Lloyd, who unforgettably plays the insidious and vile Judge Doom.

     I can't stress enough about how good this movie really is. It is comedy, drama, film-noir, nostalgia, intrigue, suspense, thrills, fun, and pure entertainment from beginning to end. I give it one of my highest of recommendations, and it's a film that never gets old. Even with today's CGI-heavy films, 1988's Who Framed Roger Rabbit stacks up just as well. Not to knock the achievements of today's motion pictures, but this one was truly special.

-Kurt L.

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