SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: Approx. 13:00 Min.
Directed by Douglas McCarthy, this double-length, rare 3D Looney Tunes short initially accompanied Space Jam’s 1996 theatrical release. Voice actor Joe Alaskey replaces the late Mel Blanc as both Daffy & Marvin.
Spying on Earth from his home planet, Marvin the Martian stumbles upon a supposed anti-Martian invasion concocted by Duck Dodgers. An incensed Marvin, in retaliation, sends K9 to abduct Dodgers not realizing that he was watching an unemployed actor: Daffy Duck. Daffy is busily improvising his own obnoxious space movie spectacular from an unused equipment storage shed on the Warner Bros. studio lot.
Upon K9 completing his mission, an initially-oblivious Daffy catches on that he is now facing real Martians. It’s up to the conniving, little black duck to thwart Marvin’s scheme on Mars and in a hot pursuit back to Earth.
REVIEW:
Preceding Galaxy Quest by three years, this vivid short explores the same basic premise (just imagine Daffy Duck instead of Tim Allen). Yet, there’s no mistaking that this cartoon is a homage to Marvin’s classic showdowns vs. Bugs Bunny (seen in a cameo of sorts) and Daffy Duck’s Duck Dodgers.
Despite some spot-on gags, this animated short makes the mistake of stretching its plot far too long. Also, seeing this cartoon in 2D spells out its gaudy video game-style animation; suffice to say, the computerized visuals lack the charm of the original Looney Tunes.
Had there been a faster and more frenetic pace, fans might have experienced a worthy successor to the Friz Freleng & Chuck Jones era. Still, Marvin the Martian in the Third Dimension, in terms of a laugh-o-meter (especially the last two minutes), surpasses most of the Duck Dodgers TV animated episodes that aired in 2003-2005.
BONUS FEATURES:
None.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
