"Bah, Humduck": Too Heartfelt to Dislike

I think it is pretty much safe to say that it is impossible to recapture whatever "it" is that makes the Looney Tunes cartoons the classics they are. There are any number of huge factors, from poor marketing to cheap animation to lack of creative freedom, and a lack of original creators still living. But occasionally, a production comes along that may not be on the level with the classics, but has a respect for the characters (not to mention their audience) and makes you say "hey, this is okay!"

"Bah, Humduck" is one of those. It's hardly Looney Tunes' finest hour, but it's far from the worst. With surprisingly decent animation, great music, and good voices, Warner Bros. Animation has done far worse than this. In fact, it's a lot better than I expected. It also has a lot of what recent classic WB cartoon revivals in the past haven't bothered to include: heart. If viewed with an open mind, it has moments that could even be called "touching".

The story is, of course, yet another re-imagining of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", a framework for cartoon Christmas specials so common that you would think they'd be beating a dead horse, if there was anything left to beat! After all, there have been "Christmas Carol" stories involving all kinds of classic characters, everyone from Fred Flintstone to the Muppets to Mister Magoo, and even the Looney Tunes took a whack at it once, though in a much different approach. The best of those are really good, and the worst just go through the motions and often miss the point. This time around, though, it's done right! I think this may be the best animated retelling of the story since the classic Magoo special, although I don't think that one will ever be topped.

Daffy Duck (voiced by Joe Alaskey) makes a pretty good Scrooge, in fact, it's probably the only justification for making him as mean as he is here. He's very much the Daffy of the later 1960's cartoons, and for once, that actually fits here. He really IS a jerk until his enlightenment, and while Yosemite Sam probably made a better Scrooge, you won't mind too much. (Sam appears as the Ghost of Christmas Present, instead.) Daffy is the boss of the Lucky Duck Department Store, and most of the Looney Tunes gang serve as his long-suffering employees. The cameos are, for once, not irritating, and there are some particularly heartfelt bits involving Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd and Marvin the Martian. Bugs Bunny (Billy West, not near as bad as he's been as Bugs in the past) shows up as a kindhearted holiday shopper, and is the first to warn Daffy about the errors of his ways. In a clever twist, Bugs has traded in his carrot for a candy cane, which he uses to give Daffy a couple of good whacks on the noggin, and warns him that people like him get visited by Christmas ghosts, and he ought to know, being an "expert" on holidays. When Assistant Manager Porky Pig (in a Bob Cratchit role) makes the suggestion that Bugs might be right, Daffy demotes him to "Assistant Assistant Manager" and threatens to kick Bugs out, until he sees his shopping list and has a hard time arguing with the promise of Bugs' money. Daffy eventually declares that the store will be open on Christmas, and everyone must be at work early. He goes up to his office to admire his store's earnings, and encounters Sylvester (Joe Alaskey in the Jacob Marley's Ghost role) who reveals that he was much like Daffy, until an employee ran over him with a forklift! "You're doomed, Daffy."

Bugs comes in the office, ("Eh, I asked an employee of yours in a space helmet where to find some cheap skates, and he directed me up here!) and warns Daffy one more time. Daffy shuts everyone out, except The Road Runner , who delivers Daffy his only present, which is of course from Daffy, to Daffy. It's an automated system that helps him boot his employees out of the office. An exhausted Elmer Fudd (voiced BEAUTIFULLY by Billy West) is denied a request to take some time off to rest, Porky Pig (Bob Bergen) is denied a day off to spend Christmas with his daughter and a raise to buy her a present, Marvin Martian (Alaskey) is denied a request to return home to Mars for Christmas.Once everyone goes home, Bugs informs Daffy that they're both snowed in, and warns him again.

Daffy locks himself in his vault with his money, until Granny (June Foray) shows up as the Ghost of Christmas Past, assisted by Tweety. Granny is thankfully her old violent self, and has traded in her umbrella for a very large candy cane! What she shows us of Daffy's childhood is actually very touching, and explains that he was an orphan who always spent Christmas alone. Of course, he doesn't quite get the point.

Next up is Yosemite Sam (Maurice Lamarche) as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Unfortunately, they couldn't find the ghost of Mel Blanc to help his voice, but it's still a better Sam voice than we've heard in a while. What Sam shows us is something I found truly touching, heartwarming in fact. I won't spoil it, but I will say that nobody will complain about Warner Bros. giving Porky Pig a daughter again, and Bob Bergen's brilliant voice acting as Porky is downright brilliant. Also, I have to give props to Tara Strong as his daughter, Pricilla Pig.

The sweetness continues with Taz as the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come (Jim Cummings). In fact, it is disarmingly poignant. They could have ruined a special like this -and I was just waiting for them to make the false move all the rest of them do-make the sentimental stuff cloying instead of effective. But I was pleasantly surprised here. I'll warn you, if you have any Christmas spirit or at least a soul, you won't forget this anytime soon. It even gets Taz himself choked up!

Daffy, true to the Dickens classic, changes his ways and gives his employees a merry Christmas after all, and learns a valuable Christmas lesson.

I went into this expecting the worst, and instead, it won me over. It's a rare treat these days to see a Christmas special that has good animation, uses a classic character cast but doesn't ruin them, uses the word "Christmas" repeatedly, teaches a moral without being cheesy, and has the guts to tug the heartstrings a little. If you have some spare change, and you like Christmas specials, you might want to give this a look. I hope it finds its way to TV at some point, because I have a feeling it might become a favorite if it's given the chance. If I may dare say it, "Bah Humduck" is a very good Christmas special!

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