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This week is a celebration of returning icons and also legends who've left us.
That rascally Wile E. Coyote headlines "Coyote vs. Acme," a "Roger Rabbit"-style live-action/animation hybrid comedy costarring Will Forte, John Cena and a mess of Looney Tunes cartoon characters. After being ingloriously shelved for a spell, that's new in movie theaters as well as the post-apocalyptic drama "The Dog Stars," the latest effort from Oscar-nominated director Ridley Scott. (And when the filmmaker behind "Alien" and "Blade Runner" does sci-fi, you pay attention.) We're also remembering some
important folks, too, by revisiting the greatest movie hits of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry.
Now on to the good stuff:
See the Looney Tunes back on the big screen with 'Coyote vs. Acme'
It's been a minute since Bugs Bunny and Co. have been a major pop-culture force. That might change with "Coyote vs. Acme," which centers on Wile E. Coyote hiring a down-on-his luck lawyer (Will Forte) to sue the Acme corporation for 75 years of defective contraptions used by Wile E. to try and take down the Road Runner.
I talked with Forte and fellow cast members John Cena and Lana Condor about the emotions they navigated when the movie was pulled from release three years ago but also what makes the Looney Tunes crew essential. Condor points out the fan-favorite coyote as “a character that just simply never gives up” and one reason why they still matter: “Yes, we hear it all the time: ‘Don't give up, don't give up.’ But that alone is such a powerful, important message, and a freaking coyote taught us that.”
Visit a futuristic dystopia in Ridley Scott's 'The Dog Stars'
"Are you kidding?" That's what Ridley Scott officially has to say about the possibility of retirement, in case you were wondering. The 88-year-old British director's latest effort "The Dog Stars" centers on a pilot (Jacob Elordi) and his dog navigating a world nine years after humanity has been mostly wiped out by a global pandemic. My bud Patrick Ryan chatted him up about "Dog Stars," "dangerous" movie reviews and underrated gems in his filmography, while I went ahead and ranked every one of his 30 movies.
In case you'd rather watch new movies from the couch, there's a slew of streaming movies that recently have come your way including the Netflix thriller "The Whisper Man" and the outstanding revenge flick "Is God Is."
Remember the great movies of Dolly Parton, Tim Curry
It was a tough week to be an '80s kid. Not only did we lose the voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, but a couple of pop-culture legends also died at age 80 on the same day. Dolly Parton was obviously a country music queen beyond compare but also was known for her screen fare. So it's worth going back to watch her "Hannah Montana" episodes – which helped Parton become a Disney darling – or bask in the timeless female empowerment of "9 to 5."
For me, personally, Tim Curry is a tougher loss. He was a part of so many cult classics like 'Legend," "Muppet Treasure Island" and obviously "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and my new colleague Moises Mendez II wrote about the musical role that made him an icon. Although I have long loved that one, too, I did a piece on how watching "Clue" when I was 9 made me a Curry super-fan for life.
Even more goodness to check out!
- Robert De Niro opens up about his role in the Netflix thriller "The Whisper Man" and (unsurprisingly) has some choice words for the president.
- How factual is the Anthony Bourdain biopic "Tony"? We investigate.
- The second season of Leanne Morgan's Netflix comedy "Leanne" is streaming, and she discusses her "yummiest" costar and her A-list fan.
- Nicholas Hoult in the new HBO "Harry Potter" show? That's so two weeks ago. Now Kit Harington has joined the magical fold.
- And are you ready for a "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" sequel?
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@usatoday.com and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who's wild for Wile E.? 'Coyote vs. Acme' is finally here
