The Film
"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."
When Who Framed Roger Rabbit? made its 1988 theatrical debut, it snagged a trio of Oscars and another three nominations. How it didn't walk away with every single award that year is beyond the comprehension of this viewer. It didn't just break the typical movie mold; it completely shattered it.
Director Robert Zemeckis perfectly combined the human world with that of cartoon mayhem. It's something that my childhood self would have loved, but the adult in me didn't think it was too shabby either -- even if though this world is way more Looney Tunes than Merry Melodies. There's betrayal, murder, and don't even get me started on the patty-cake.
The one saving grace is gumshoe Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), who is called in to sober up and investigate Jessica Rabbit (voiced by Kathleen Turner), the curviest cartoon to ever grace the big screen. Soon after, Marvin Acme, owner of Toontown, beloved prankster and part-time patty-caker, ends up dead. Now, it's up to Eddie to clear Roger Rabbit's furry name -- as well as a few of his own personal demons.
After 25 years, When Who Framed Roger Rabbit? may not seem as original, but it's still a really entertaining film. Hoskins does an incredible job here, as does Christopher Lloyd as uber-villain Judge Doom. This is one well worth revisiting.
The Picture
Roger Rabbit is one of those films that I've been waiting to see on Blu-ray. The end result wasn't really worth the wait, but it's a nice bump up from previous video releases. What makes the film so fantastic is how well it meshes real life with the cartoon world. It doesn't mesh quite as well in this 1.85:1 transfer, but that's just the nature of this magnificent beast. Some of the cartoon imagery is a little drab and there's a lot of flickering, fluctuating grain, and even some softness. It defintely has its moments of clarity though, and those are quite cool. Most of those happen during the live-action scenes, but Jessica Rabbit's dress is bright and shimmery, Toontown pops with perky characters, and the outdoor scenery works a lot better than when the backdrop is dingy. It's just really inconsistent. The detail could be a lot better and the colors on the cartoons seem sort of dim. It's just disappointing, considering the magnitude of this movie and the work Disney has done on some of its older films. It's enjoyable enough, but my guess is that it would have been insanely expensive to make this film look the way it should and the way it deserves.
The Sound
For the most part, Roger Rabbit is a front-heavy affair. That's not really a knock; it's just the nature of the film. However, there are plenty of fun, immersive moments where the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track really opens up and rings throughout the entire soundfield. Some of those notable moments include the few times Roger takes a drink, the "shave and a haircut" scene, and whenever the score sounds off.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Roger Rabbit is now 25 years old (p-p-please!), and he's showing signs of his age. The long-awaited Blu-ray is sort of a disappointment, but this is a really complicated film. It would have been nice if Disney could have used some of its magic on this classic or maybe even given the release a few new extras. Still, the Blu-ray is a squeak better than its DVD predecessor, making it one worth owning.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
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