By Evan Allred
Thomas Edison once said:
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
Edison was most famous for his inventions of the lightbulb and the phonograph, and this quote encapsulates where success is found – perseverance.
Most people are familiar with the Looney Tunes cartoons like “The Road Runner Show,” in which Wile E. Coyote consistently pursues the Road Runner, but always comes up short in an explosive manner.
“Coyote vs. ACME” opens showing just how often the Road Runner escaped at Coyote’s explosive peril. Coyote develops a last-ditch plan to catch the Road Runner in court, leading to Coyote being the witness in the case against ACME’s destructive cartoon gadgets.
In an effort to start the court case, Coyote meets Kevin Avery (Will Forte), an unsuccessful, lazy and underperforming lawyer whose goal is only to settle cases and to avoid big cases. The pair eventually sue ACME for all of its cartoon gadgets, a case that Avery never intended to take on.
This David vs. Goliath case becomes far more multi-faceted due to the discovery of an ACME conspiracy known as the Sisyphus Project. The mismatched courtroom battle between Avery and successful nemesis, Buddy Crane (John Cena) sets the stage for this humor-filled trial.
Overall, the movie treats its audience to a unique film style incorporating both real actors and cartoon characters into this fun hybrid world. Following the case, viewers are led to cheer for the underdog and for justice against the big corporation of ACME.
This rollercoaster ride of the court case is defined in one scene: Avery receives an offer to settle for $1 million but instead, he declines, and chooses to try anyway. This moment shows that Avery is a dynamic character, the shift showing his change from laziness to success.
This overarching theme of perseverance is not just important to the on-screen events, but also encapsulates the background of the movie. “Coyote vs. ACME” was produced by Warner Bros. Discovery in 2023, however, was shelved for a tax write-off. That was until 2026 when Ketchup Entertainment bought the film’s rights for around $50 million and distributed the movie to the world.
The film played into this background by addressing it in trailers and teasers with the phrase, “The Movie ACME Doesn’t Want You to See,” and another with Coyote holding a sign reading, “Check your write-offs.” Thanks to the perseverance of those who wanted the film to be released, moviegoers are able to see this upbeat encouraging film that teaches its audience the value of perseverance.
While the budget of this film was reported to be about $70-$72 million, its enthralling plot and captivating message show why this film will definitely be considered a success. A fun movie for the family that shares encouraging messages goes a long way in today’s society and “Coyote vs. ACME” teaches that justice is right no matter how big an opposition might be.
I would highly recommend this film to any avid moviegoer, as it inspires its audience to keep trying, no matter how many times you have failed. Just as Coyote and Avery fought against the big corporation, ACME, you can achieve more than you expect when you persevere. This message is helpful to the public audience and the film itself is a captivating experience. This would be a success for any family movie night or simply any trip to the movies.
If it were not for those who persevered and fought to have this film released to the public, it might have been shelved forever.
“Coyote vs. ACME” is currently playing in theaters
Evan Allred is a fourth-year MDiv and writer for Cedars in the Arts & Entertainment department. He is from Alabama and deeply wishes he had Coyote’s rocket skates.
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures and Animation
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