Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

This film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, and stars Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, and Charles Fleischer.The story revolves around a crime that the cartoon character, or "toon," Roger Rabbit has been, to quote the title, framed for.Okay, let's get one thing out of the way (SPOILER): The villain "twist" for who they are and what they are is so painfully obvious from the moment of his introduction early on in the film. This is a huge problem, and would only fool me if I was a 6-year-old watching this.The great news is, even without this, the film is a very solid and entertaining experience. The story, aside from the villain, is very creative. The characters are all good to say the least. And you know what hit me? This is the film I wanted to see when I was a kid. All my favorite cartoon characters together. There is no painful "modernization" of the characters or dialogue at all. Robert Zemeckis' direction is fantastic. There are even some scary and dramatic moments that hit home, too!I loved this movie, and I recommend it (but seriously, who has not seen it?) and I will be returning to it several times in the future.RATING:8/10

Sights and Sounds - This movie has some pretty good cinematography. Even better and more impressive however, are the effects. The cartoon characters are almost perfectly incorporated into the real sets in a ways that are actually a lot more impressive than what more recent films have attempted with modern technology. The voice acting and overall sound design are also pretty good. Characters - Though there are a few minor inconsistencies with characters, they're pretty entertaining and interesting for the most part. The acting is pretty good as well. Everyone clearly had great direction here.Plot - Though there are some dumb moments, this movie is overall very clever and entertaining. Rating - I'm not entirely sure why this movie was trying to go for a PG rating. There are lots of dark and sexual themes in this movie that could've been better explored with a higher rating. I guess its because this movie features child-friendly characters like Bugs Bunny.

Is this strictly a children's film? No. Is this a typical adult orientated flick? No. It's in that niche area where everyone of all ages can find enjoyment out of this. A detective is caught in the midst of a murder where a toon named Roger Rabbit is framed, they then team up to unravel the mystery. This could've easily been a by-the-numbers children's plot, but to make it a murder mystery instead was bold. Incredibly bold, yet it works so well. It's just genius. The whole concept of toons interacting with humans and how their worlds are linked is nothing short of brilliance. The technology used at the time was groundbreaking. Green screen aplenty, stunt work with wires and perfect sound effects editing, this is a technical masterpiece. The compelling plot with memorable characters is the icing on the cake. The whole "being forced to work together to save the day" concept has been done many times and is a rather tired formula, that is literally my only complaint. Oh, and certain scenes where animation and reality didn't blend particularly well (very very very minor gripe). But my God this film is amazing. I think what's more impressive is the idea that these rivalling animation studios (Disney, Hanna Barbera etc.) actually agreed to have their properties in one film. Together. Which really creates the perfect "ToonTown" so to speak. It harks back to my childhood. Having Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse on screen together, I would never have thought it. The nostalgia just took over the film and made it a much more personal viewing for me. The cartoonish antics of objects falling on them, running into walls or inanimate objects being able to speak. It's just oh so beautiful to watch. Bob Hoskins and Christopher Lloyd were fantastic, although the latter does have a pretty ghastly scene towards the end that might be slightly too much for children! Robert Zemeckis just keeps pumping out engaging movies, a severely overlooked director. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Film includes an extraordinary cast of actors: Charles Fleischer (the voice over of Roger Rabbit, Benny the Cab, Greasy, and Psycho), Bob Hoskins (Detective Valiant), Christopher Lloyd (Judge Doom), Kathleen Turner (Jessica Rabbit), the legendary voice artists of Mel Blanc (aka "The Man of a Thousand Voices" who does Bugs, Daffy, Tweety, Porky, and Sylvester) and Mae Questel (who does Betty Boop!), just to name a few....Alternately hilarious and suspenseful, this film 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. Movie represents the apex of 20th century film-making, 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.Overall rating: 9 out of 10.