Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Zach B

  
  There was a time period in my life where I was obsessed with this film. When I first saw this film, I was around the age of seven and I was entranced with the look of this film. Even till today, I have yet to see a more lovingly crafted film that mixes handdrawn animation and real… More
  There was a time period in my life where I was obsessed with this film. When I first saw this film, I was around the age of seven and I was entranced with the look of this film. Even till today, I have yet to see a more lovingly crafted film that mixes handdrawn animation and real actors together as brilliantly as this film did. Then I saw this film about ten years later at the age of seventeen and what I saw is what I consider one of the best films of the 1980's. But why is this film is good? What makes it timeless? It would have to be the character of Roger Rabbit. If one was to think about it, Roger is the personified idea of a 1940's actor at the time: crazy, desperate for work, protective over those he loves, and a total air head that is beyond lovable. From the time he drinks alcohol in this film to the scene where he is near death, the character of Roger moves this story. Now, here is the funny thing: he is the character that this film is based around, but he is only the supporting character. The real star is Eddie Valiant. This is one disturbed, distraught-ed individual who has a boiling hatred for all things related to toons due to an unfortunate murder that took his brother. With this in mind, Eddie takes the center stage as he unfolds this film and we experience this crazy world that he lives in as he rediscovers all he has missed during his era of hatocracy. Robert Zemeckis is one of the most prolific directors we have now, directing films ranging from Beowulf to Back To The Future to Forest Gump to even The Polar Express. He pushes the boundaries of what one can do with special effects like what Spielberg did with E.T. and Kubrick did with 2002. With this film, I consider this his all time masterpiece, beating any of the films I have mentioned and the famous Cast Away. Why this film is his masterpiece is due to how lovingly he pays attention to the detail with the cartoons. The term 'life like' does not apply here. These toons have shadows, does damage to humans, and actually become humans in their own right. What Zemeckis did with this film was open the doors for films like Space Jam and Rocky & Bullwinkle years later. While this film is a technical achievement, it is also historic in the sense that this film did something that was unheard of: Disney and Warner Brothers would team up their money children into one film and have them work together. There has always been a debate over which is better: Mickey Mouse or Bugs Bunney. This film destroys all debates by showing that both universes of cartoons are equal and coexists with all of us regardless if we want to admit it or not. Mainly dealing with how Hollywood relies too much on these characters to make money. Sometimes to the extent that they use them as minorities and never pays them any real respect, seeing them as completely disposable. I know what you are all thinking: He is acting as if these cartoons are really living! He has finally cracked! This is my defense: I have not gone crazy. What has happened is that this film shows that, at the time, no one appreciated the hard work that people who makes these creations go through. This film is complete tribute to the works of Disney and Warner Brothers. It is a pity that I have yet to see anything that resembles another collaboration. In the end, this film is a complete work of art from beginning to end. From the hilarious opening segment till the heartwarming ending, this is a film that still has yet to be surpassed by any other film that deals with animation I have seen. It constantly grows as animation gives way to CGI and people start to forget the magic and love of hand-drawn animation. This wonderful film is one of those films that much be watched, then watched again to gain a complete appreciation for the work that went into this.

• Directors C

  
  Who Framed Roger Rabbit has always set the benchmark for live action animation mixing. Its colourful and its charming and the acting is well done and it boasts an original storyline. This is an example of a film made when all sorts of talent actually gathered to show that… More
  Who Framed Roger Rabbit has always set the benchmark for live action animation mixing. Its colourful and its charming and the acting is well done and it boasts an original storyline. This is an example of a film made when all sorts of talent actually gathered to show that entertainemnt for the family is just as important as any other target audience. It's got great music and a very classic feel to it.

• Graham J

  
  This is movie magic. So colorful and beautiful.

• Phil H

  
  Zemekis genius here, saw this when I was about 11 and it blew me away, it still does. Lloyd and Hoskins are great but we all know this film is about the effects and the toons. The cartoons look amazing and despite standing out against the live action actors like bad bluescreen it… More
  Zemekis genius here, saw this when I was about 11 and it blew me away, it still does. Lloyd and Hoskins are great but we all know this film is about the effects and the toons. The cartoons look amazing and despite standing out against the live action actors like bad bluescreen it somehow still looks good. Its amazing the skill involved to make real objects move, timed to perfection, so they blend with the toons, to be frank the making of the film is almost better and more interesting than the actual film. The story grabs you and isn't as basic as you might suspect whilst the film is also historic as its the only time Warner ('Bugs' etc..) and Disney ('Dumbo' etc..) cartoons feature on the same screen. Fun, wacky, quite macabre and risky here and there..kids be warned everything is not rosey in this world of toons. Stand out movie which is extremely clever and well made.

• Daniel L

  
  Probably one of my favorite movies as a kid. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a thrilling and hilarious noir film that blends live action with incredible animation.

• Manu G

  
  It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble. Saw it again! Great movie! I saw it when I was a kid and now it's pretty the same, enjoyed it alot. This movie also won 3 oscars which was pretty cool too. Love the story and it's characters!… More
  It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble. Saw it again! Great movie! I saw it when I was a kid and now it's pretty the same, enjoyed it alot. This movie also won 3 oscars which was pretty cool too. Love the story and it's characters! It's the story of a cartoon character named Roger Rabbit who exists along side of real humans. Eventually, it is revealed that Marvin Acme, the owner of the Acme Company and of Toontown, has been murdered! But all fingers point to Roger Rabbit, a Toon star at Maroon Cartoons. But unfortunately the only person who can prove Roger's innocence is Toon hating Eddie Valiant, a washed-up, alcoholic private detective who is reluctantly forced into helping when Roger hides in his apartment. It's up to Eddie to clear Roger's name and find the real evildoer before the villainous, power-hungry Judge Doom goes on a mission to bring Roger to justice!

• Alexander D

  
  Great

• Jeff "

  
  Many films have been groundbreaking in the use of computer animation. In 1982 it was Tron, in 1988 it was Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This is a remarkable film utilizing some amazing special effects that combines toons with the real world. Director Robert Zemeckis taking a short break… More
  Many films have been groundbreaking in the use of computer animation. In 1982 it was Tron, in 1988 it was Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This is a remarkable film utilizing some amazing special effects that combines toons with the real world. Director Robert Zemeckis taking a short break from the Back To The Future films and directs this impressive film. I remember seeing this film as a child, and I remember Christopher Lloyd scaring the hell outta me. Watching it recently brought back memories, and I can understand why I felt that way about Lloyd's character. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an incredible film that is pure fun for the entire family. The special effects are incredible, and Robert Zemeckies has accomplished yet another film classic with this film. Who Framed Roger Rabbit is really a funny film that has something for everyone. But like I said, the special here are a sight to see. Especially considering that this was made in the 80's. As far as the acting is concerned, well everr cast member delivers a good job at delivering a great performance. I especially enjoyed Kathleen Turner as the voice of Jessica Rabbit and of course Christopher Lloyd as Judge Doom. The film has a sharp brand of humour that at times is oriented towards adults. This is definitely a must see film not to be missed by film lovers. A awesome comedy for people of all ages.

• Brad W

  
  I just love watching this movie, its a masterpiece. The technology used in this movie is hard to do even in todays movies. Hoskins is very rare to be in a movie but this might be his greatest role ever. The plot is great with a mix of comedy, mystery, and noire. The animated… More
  I just love watching this movie, its a masterpiece. The technology used in this movie is hard to do even in todays movies. Hoskins is very rare to be in a movie but this might be his greatest role ever. The plot is great with a mix of comedy, mystery, and noire. The animated characters look great and have amazing voice acting. This movie just always has something going on and if youre lucky youll see some of yourfavorite animated characters of the old days.

• AJ V

  
  A technically and visually awesome movie, as well as a great and funny story. This movie is a lot of fun, and I highly recommend it.

• Jacob E

  
  You know, this movie surprised me. It really did, and it surprised me as much as it surprised people who saw it in 1988. Mixing cartoons and live actors had been considered suicidal for years, it was impossible to do well. Let me take this time very briefly to point out that the… More
  You know, this movie surprised me. It really did, and it surprised me as much as it surprised people who saw it in 1988. Mixing cartoons and live actors had been considered suicidal for years, it was impossible to do well. Let me take this time very briefly to point out that the 1980's represents the final decade in which filmmakers really REALLY had to work hard to maker their stuff look good, and some have managed to survive the test of time as a result (Blade Runner, The Thing). But Who Framed Roger Rabbit is in this category as well, the movie still looks stunning. The interaction between the actors and the cartoons is incredibly realistic, the way light and shadows hit the cartoons and the way they bump into objects is very well scripted, and the animation was 100% hand-drawn. I'm amazed by how well the effects hold up, but there are plenty of movies with great special effects, but what counts is if the story is good. Thankfully, Roger Rabbit nails this by mixing wacky Tex Avery style characters with a cop-noir story. This very bizarre mixture results in some very memorable moments, including the only time in film history that Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse are in the same movie and same shot at the same time. I'll give you time to re-read the previous sentence if needed so you can process the thought of 2 of the biggest rivals in animation showing up together in the greatest cameo of all time. I won't spoil too many of the set pieces, but you won't forget them anytime soon. Let me wrap this up and say that this is essential viewing for anyone of any age (adults might enjoy this more than kids, risque jokes for the win) and especially if you love old school animation characters, you might spend the majority of your time watching for all the characters that show up. An excellent movie, one of the easiest 5-stars I've ever had to give. NOTE: Can someone get Disney to release this on Blu-Ray? If they even announced that, I would pre-order it in a heart beat.

• Michael E

  
  an amazing mix of adult humor, animation, camera work, character development, great suspense, great characters, and great acting. The most innovative film ive ever seen in the cartoon department

• Spencer S

  
  Brought back interest in the golden age of cartoons and supposedly led to the Disney Renaissance. Roger Rabbit was made for adults and children, and delivers on both fronts. Bob Hoskins seems to have been born tough and controlled, and his loony companion is right in between annoying… More
  Brought back interest in the golden age of cartoons and supposedly led to the Disney Renaissance. Roger Rabbit was made for adults and children, and delivers on both fronts. Bob Hoskins seems to have been born tough and controlled, and his loony companion is right in between annoying and comic genius. Not forgetting the perfect baddie Christopher Lloyd, who was not only the perfect choice in casting, but is a kid's worst nightmare.

• Chris W

  
  At the time this first came out, it was a true revelation. Never before had such a technically innovative and imaginative film been released. Blendning live action with animation (and bringing Disnet together with Warner Bros.), Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an outstanding allegorical… More
  At the time this first came out, it was a true revelation. Never before had such a technically innovative and imaginative film been released. Blendning live action with animation (and bringing Disnet together with Warner Bros.), Who Framed Roger Rabbit is an outstanding allegorical mystery film. As a kid I didn't pick up on the references, but now, the throwbacks to film noir and hard boiled detective stories are awesome. Kids can enjoy this movie because it's a lot of fun, and there are lots of animated characters, but this is also a film for adults too, as there is a lot of depth, character development, and mature themes and issues on display. Everything looks absolutely gorgeous, and the blending of live action and animation is seamless. The writing is very smart and sharp, and well observed, the performances (live action and voice) are fantastic, and the direction is great. It's obvious I basically love this movie, even though I haven't actually watched ir for some time. While I think that Zemeckis is still a good director, this was back when he was in top form, and his movies treated visual and effects wizardly equally with story and characters. Not that his more recent movies are devoid of substance, but they seem more shallow. I wish Hollywood would still make movies like this (both in this hybrid style, and with this level of ingenuity and creativity in general).

• Richard C

  
  B

• Bently L

  
  I remember seeing this on VHS when I was little and loving it! Since I was a toddler, I didn't see the movie as a murder mystery and took it literally as a comedy. The scene where they kill the animated shoe with the DIP still haunts me to this day. Not to mention Judge… More
  I remember seeing this on VHS when I was little and loving it! Since I was a toddler, I didn't see the movie as a murder mystery and took it literally as a comedy. The scene where they kill the animated shoe with the DIP still haunts me to this day. Not to mention Judge Doom's death. IT'S ONE OF THE BEST DEATHS IN HISTORY!!! Funny, cool, scary, and entertaining everytime!

• Film C

  
  i love this movie its a classic!!! its a chldhood classic thats fun and entertaining, i like the half cartoon and half human style of the movie and is just a great fun movie thats completely worth a watch!

• Tim S

  
  One of Zemeckis' best and most innovative films.

• Conner R

  
  I'm just really not a fan of this movie. It's interesting to look at, but it just wasn't all that interesting. I like the idea of it being sort've a demented twist on Looney Tunes, but it didn't really go all that far. Bob Hoskins was flat and really was just… More
  I'm just really not a fan of this movie. It's interesting to look at, but it just wasn't all that interesting. I like the idea of it being sort've a demented twist on Looney Tunes, but it didn't really go all that far. Bob Hoskins was flat and really was just doing a corny impression of a lead in a 40's noir film. Robert Zemeckis just didn't deliver the brilliance of some of his other films.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble."</i> A toon hating detective is a cartoon rabbit's only hope to prove his innocence when he is accused of murder. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble."</i> A toon hating detective is a cartoon rabbit's only hope to prove his innocence when he is accused of murder. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> Imagine a world where Bugs Bunny was your next door neighbor and Mickey Mouse came to one of your parties. That is the magical world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a remarkable movie, not only in the visual achievement of the film, but also it stars both Disney and Looney Toon characters. Produced by Steven Spielberg, rights owned by Buena Vista (part of the Disney empire), and directed by Robert Zemeckis, there is a lot of talent involved with this melding of live action and cartoon characters. This, of course, is not the first melding of people and cartoon, one just has to look back at Mary Poppins, but this is the most advanced convergence of real life and cartoon life. The story involves a cartoon rabbit actor, Roger, who is accused of murder. Before Judge Doom (Christopher Lloyd) took over Toontown (where all of the cartoon characters live, a town that looks like it came out of a child's nightmare), there was no way to kill a cartoon character. But Doom found a way to administer capital punishment for his citizens (by using paint thinner, or course) and Roger is on the lam. He finds aid in a drunk detective (Ed Hoskins) who spiraled down from the heights of the business after a cartoon killed his partner, his brother. The movie features the sexiest cartoon character since Betty Boop, who is also in the movie, in Jessica Rabbit, married to Roger. Why would she marry Roger Rabbit? Easy, he makes her laugh. The story is a pretty standard "whodunnit" movie, but the movie itself is much much more than that. Such a creative merge of hardboiled detective story and cartoons of the 1940s is a joy to watch. And the end of the movie discusses the zany ideas of "strip malls" and "free ways" in such a way to bring out some of the biggest laughs of the movie. A trailblazing movie is entertaining to a point, Who Framed Roger Rabbit has the plot to keep the viewer interested throughout the entire picture.

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