Stephen Thor

The Last Friends of Willie Coyote
Film (Fantasy) Hunter THE FOLLOWING IS FROM A PAID BLACKLIST SCREENPLAY REVIEWER Era Modern (2012) Locations American Southwest Budgets High Genre Action & Adventure, Action Comedy, Comic Book & Super Heroes Logline A group of friends stumbles across a classified military base and discover that WILLIE COYOTE and THE ROADRUNNER are very real. Strengths “The Last Friends of Wile E. Coyote” is an entertaining and imaginative subversion of classic cartoon tropes. The plot gets too convoluted and puzzling, but this is a creative and funny world, and we are always along for the ride. The early parts of the script are hilarious for the way they bring the classic over-the-top hijinks of Coyote trying to catch The Roadrunner with a series of elaborate schemes to life as humans watch with pointed, deadpan commentary. The script has a firm grasp on the manic energy and cunning of Coyote and the dynamic of his conflict with The Roadrunner. We don’t need a story this complicated when we have these two central icons fully realized here. Though fans may consider it blasphemous, both for the talking and the shift in their relationship, the scene where Coyote tells The Roadrunner that he’s sorry for everything they’ve done and he now realizes their friendship is curiously affecting. Weaknesses The plot is needlessly convoluted and complicated, at the risk of losing and alienating the audience. Part of the appeal of the old Coyote and Roadrunner cartoons was the simplicity of it all. Coyote’s schemes and devices could be hilariously elaborate, but the premise was very basic. It might be a challenge to stretch this dynamic out to feature length, but the way this story plays out, with a very complicated backstory to the coyote civilization going back a million years, military intervention, and Native American mythology is confusing and soon gets away from the central appeal. The ancestor ghost warriors feel like part of a different movie. Allen, Vaughn, and Ella are endearing enough, but many of the other human characters don’t fare as well, bringing unwanted complication and darkness. Mr. Badde is particularly unpleasant, especially when we have to watch his parents screaming as they burn to death. Prospects: "The Last Friends of Wile E. Coyote" is funny and inventive, but it has a very difficult path to film. Obviously the participation of Warner Brothers would be required, and it's hard to see them putting their iconic Looney Tunes in such a dark and sometimes disturbing story. The death, language, and seduction push an R-rating and come off as less family friendly than the cartoons. Seeing Coyote talk and warm up to The Roadrunner may also be anathema. There is a lot to enjoy here and it might work as a writing sample, but the chances of this spec actually being produced are slim. Pages 129 Options Would you like for this review to be visible to the public? Yes

THE LAST FRIENDS OF WILE E. COYOTE Budget: $30M+ | Fantasy A group of friends stumbles across a classified military base and discover that WILLIE COYOTE and THE ROADRUNNER are very real.

THE LAST FRIENDS OF WILE E. COYOTE Budget: $10M - $30M | Adventure ⋄ Fantasy A CARTOON BECOMES NO LAUGHING MATTER