Who Framed Roger Rabbit

An instant slapstick classic from Disney and Steven Spielberg. Already, it's a hare's breadth away from legend. [22 June 1988]

Brilliantly funny, bracingly smart and surprisingly moving. [22 June 1988]

It's the year's cleverest comedy in more ways than one. The animated sequences are brilliant... Most important, the story also has dark overtones that lend a hint of seriousness to what could have been just silly. [24 June 1988]

If you don't like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, have your pulse checked... You'll forget yourself right through to the end when Porky Pig, dressed as a cop, says "M-move along, there's n-nothing more to s-see folks." [24 June 1988]

Combines live-action and animation with breathtaking wizardry... Alternately hilarious, frightening, and awesome.

Something got lost in the move from storyboard to screen, and in the stretch from seven minutes to 103. [27 June 1988]

The plot, the gags, the action are so stupid and strident, so unfunnily parodic, that the film's only interest is in wondering how they did it-the mix of animation and live action. [1 Aug 1988]

One of the modern marvels of cinema, and a legendary classic by director Robert Zemeckis, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” pushed the boundaries of moviemaking by crossing the medium of live action with animation while also presenting an intriguing and comedic, fantasy whodunit. This film was produced in the late eighties; a time when every panel of the storyboard was designed to be a work of art. The resulting scenes are handled with care and concern: visual and audible clarity is exceptional, the pacing is fantastic and the narrative never veers far from the theme. Roger Rabbit comes across as family friendly with parental guidance (Rated PG); a difficult rating to achieve, given the popularity of the then recently introduced PG-13, which was always the safer bet. This film did include some inappropriate, albeit difficult to catch, animated nudity in its initial presentation, which was later censored in the laserdisc release. It must be mentioned that a good deal of this film’s timeless quality is thanks to its wonderful casting. The supporting actors are down to earth and unpretentious, allowing viewers to easily connect to the characters. Major credit must be given to Bob Hoskins, whose natural yet vivid demeanor is an inspiration to actors everywhere. Hoskins is one of the greats of our time because of his ability to convey a wide range of feelings convincingly and with clarity. This honesty allows the audience to not only perceive but also relate to the protagonists he portrays (please see the British mob film “The long good Friday” for more of his acting).I often condemn my fellow actors for lack of variety in character or performance: household names such as Pedro Pascal, The Rock, Michelle Rodriguez, and Mark Wahlberg are entertainers who make little to no effort to transform into character. Although true professionals like Bob Hoskins and Patrick Stewart may fail to significantly change their physical outward appearance, what separates them from their mediocre counterparts is their ability to step into different persona (energy and emotion on varied states). A good performer plays with demographics, psychographics, behaviors, motivations, and goals, regardless of what is presented in the script. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” presents us with wonderful characters who have heightened emotions and meaningful ends.“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” is about love, loss, and reconciliation. It’s about levity, in even the most serious or distressed among us, as well as the need to defend the vulnerable, regardless of their shortcomings. Its comedic moments will easily have a straight man (the comedic foil) chuckling and younger viewers giggling (a parent should be present). This film is a true classic and is a must watch for any serious film professional or movie fan.

The rhythmic machinery of a hard-boiled rebellion: A 3.0-star vivid but familiar drift through high-tension ink-and-flesh grit.2001(3.0)I watched Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) in 2001, and it remains a vivid 3.0-star record in my archive—a raw revelation of how a sensational noir masterpiece can be trapped in a narrative rhythm that feels 100% mechanical and stagnant when viewed through a childhood lens. This experience **** the fourth wall of the mystery genre by infusing Eddie Valiant’s raw, cynical human precision and Roger’s sensational, bbo-jjak cartoon wit into a rhythmic journey that turned a pathetic murder frame-up into a vivid act of storytelling rebellion. The narrative rhythm was far from stagnant in its visual ambition; instead, it offered a sensational acting power show where the raw, high-tension interaction between live-action layers and the hororong dip-dissolving terror of Judge Doom left me in a state of absolute awe at its visceral soul. While the production leveraged the vivid, sensational "Jessica Rabbit" allure and the raw, chewy cameos from rival studios, the overall soul felt stagnant, as the narrative rhythm followed a pathetic cycle of adult noir tropes that lacked the high-tension impact of a 5.0-star masterpiece like Anastasia. The 95% preservation of my memory is dominated by the rhythmic, raw beauty of the "shave and a haircut" gag and the vivid but pathetic struggle of the Toon Patrol, creating a journey that felt more like a sensational TV special artifact than a permanent, sensational scar on my soul. Unlike the vivid soul of 101 Dalmatians (2000) or the raw brilliance of Tarzan, this encounter possessed a rhythm that was too stagnant and "complex" for my 2001 archive to fully embrace. It stands in my record as a powerful 3.0-star testament to the raw power of Robert Zemeckis’ vision—a high-tension encounter with the vivid rhythm of Toontown that remains a chewy, if familiar, artifact of my television journey.

While this must have been an outstanding achievement back in its day, it feels much a bit outdated now. Especially that this is the first time for me watching this movie. The humor feels kinda stale, and so does the effects (but that is understandable of course). The story is clever, though not so "touching" as many claim it to be. However, what truly stands the test of time is the concept itself. The idea of mixing live-action with animation is quite brilliant and works on many levels. Another great idea was mixing the the characters of rival animation studios together, although it didn't play a big part in the movie overall. In summation, a good movie, but i wish i could have watched this in my childhood. Would have appreciated it a lot more.

An amazing combination of classic (Warner Brothers?) cartoon and regular cinematography, with rich sets. But the dialog is obnoxious and annoying, as is the relentless high energy of most scenes, and ends up being a mess. It deserves a point or two for sheer lunacy. I am surprised so many apparently like this.

Not especially funny and overwhelmingly crude, Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a shameless cash-in on brand recognition and mindless slapstick. The movie is not family friendly.