Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Posted on April 14, 1999 at 3:06 pm

In this technical marvel of a movie, human and animated actors interact seamlessly. It begins with a cartoon, loveable Roger Rabbit taking care of adorable Baby Herman, despite every kind of slapstick disaster. Then, as birdies are swimming around Roger’s head after a refrigerator crashes down on him, a live-action director steps in to complain that the script called for stars, and we are in a 1947 Hollywood where “Toons” are real.
A private detective named Eddie (Bob Hoskins) is hired by the head of Roger’s studio to get evidence that Roger’s gorgeous wife Jessica is seeing another man. Eddie does not want the assignment. Once a friend to the Toons, he hates them since one of them killed his brother. But he needs the money badly, so Eddie goes to the Ink and Paint nightclub, where Jessica performs, and he takes photos of her playing “patty-cake” (literally) with Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye), maker of novelties and gags. Roger is distraught when he sees the photographs. But it turns out that Jessica is completely faithful to Roger, and that she is caught up in a complex plot to close down Toon Town and Los Angeles’ excellent public transportation system to build freeways. Eddie’s efforts lead him to Toon Town and then to a warehouse where the real villain is revealed.
This was a one-time opportunity for cartoon characters from all the studios to join forces, and it is one of the great pleasures in movie history to see them all together. Donald Duck and Daffy Duck perform a hilarious duet at the Ink and Paint Club. On his way out the door at Maroon studios, Eddie brushes by several members from the “cast” of “Fantasia.” The penguin waiters from Mary Poppins show up in another scene, as do Pinocchio, Mickey Mouse, and Woody Woodpecker. The mix of characters and styles works extremely well, and kids will enjoy seeing some of their favorite characters in a different context. Kathleen Turner provided the sultry speaking voice of Jessica Rabbit, but her singing voice was Amy Irving.
Children will be delighted with the Toon characters, and with the interaction of the cartoons with the human actors and with the physical world. Eddie’s venture into Toon Town is almost as good. The story is fast-paced and exciting, and the slapstick is outstanding. But the human and cartoon characters mix more smoothly than the combination of slapstick and film noir references in this movie. The plot includes murder, corruption, and suspected adultery. The premise that the only possible explanation for the traffic system in Los Angeles is that it was the vision of a sinister madman is funnier for adults than it is for kids. Eddie is not an especially attractive leading character. Still reeling from his brother’s murder, he drinks too much and is surly to his clients, to his girlfriend, and to Roger.


Parents should know that this film has some cartoon-style violence (characters in peril, one killed), smoking, drinking (with exaggerated reactions), and mild crude language and crude humor.
Questions for discussion: Why does Eddie blame all the Toons for his brother’s death? Why is it so hard for him to be nice to anyone? Why don’t the humans and Toons get along better? Would you like to visit Toon Town? What would you do there?
If you like this, make your own invisible ink.

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Animation Based on a book Comedy Fantasy For the Whole Family Satire

2 Replies to “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”

  1. I heard rumors of a sequel being made. I know the author of the book “Who Censored Roger Rabbit” wrote a second. Any truth to the rumor? Any idea if the studio (Disney) will be as successful at including the wide variety of cartoon Stars? I wonder if they could include some of the new ones, like the Simpsons or some from the video game pantheon.

    1. Hi, jestrfyl! I am worried about the sequel because the word is that even the humans will be animated through Zemeckis’s passion, motion capture, which he used in “Christmas Carol” and “Polar Express” and the big flop, “Mars Needs Moms.” He says the humans will be in 3D and the toons in 2D, but that sounds awful to me. I love your idea of using contemporary toons in the story!

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