Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
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98% of critics liked it
(48 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(406,069 ratings)
In Robert Zemeckis's trailblazing combination of animation and live-action, Hollywood's 1940s cartoon stars are a subjugated minority, living in the ghettolike "Toontown" where their movements are sharply monitored by the human power establishment. The Toons are permitted to… More In Robert Zemeckis's trailblazing combination of animation and live-action, Hollywood's 1940s cartoon stars are a subjugated minority, living in the ghettolike "Toontown" where their movements are sharply monitored by the human power establishment. The Toons are permitted to perform in a Cotton Club-style nightspot but are forbidden to patronize the joint. One of Toontown's leading citizens, whacked-out Roger Rabbit, is framed for the murder of human nightclub owner Marvin Acme (Stubby Kaye). Private detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), whose prejudice against Toons stems from the time that his brother was killed by a falling cartoon piano, reluctantly agrees to clear Roger of the accusation. Most of the sociopolitical undertones of the original novel were weeded out out of the 1988 film version, with emphasis shifted to its basic "evil land developer" plotline --and, more enjoyably, to a stream of eye-popping special effects. With the combined facilities of animator Richard Williams, Disney, Warner Bros., Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, and George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic, the film allows us to believe (at least for 90 minutes) that "toons" exist, and that they are capable of interacting with 3-dimensional human beings. Virtually every major cartoon character of the late 1940s shows up, with the exceptions of Felix the Cat and Popeye the Sailor, whose licensees couldn't come to terms with the producers. Of the film's newly minted Toons, the most memorable is Roger Rabbit's curvaceous bride Jessica (voiced, uncredited, by Kathleen Turner). The human element is well-represented by Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, and Joanna Cassidy; also watch for action-film producer Joel Silver as Roger Rabbit's Tex Avery-style director. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Zemeckis
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 22, 1988 Wide
- Studio
- Buena Vista Distribution Compa
Critic Reviews
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Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
The opening cartoon upstages the movie that emerges from it.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A Hollywood entertainment that lived up to its hype.
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Variety Staff, Variety
The real stars are the animators, under British animation director Richard Williams, who pull off a technically amazing feat of having humans and Toons seem to be interacting with one another.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Supremely entertaining -- especially for adults.
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Glenn Abel, Hollywood Reporter
Roger looks terrific after 15 years.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Bob Hoskins
as Eddie Valiant
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Christopher Lloyd
as Judge Doom
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Joanna Cassidy
as Dolores
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Stubby Kaye
as Marvin Acme
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Charles Fleischer
as Benny the Cab, Greasy, Psycho, Roger Rab...
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Alan Tilvern
as R.K. Maroon
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Richard Le Parmentier
as Lt. Santino
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Joel Silver
as Raoul Raoul Director
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Betsy Brantley
as Jessica Rabbit performance model
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Kathleen Turner
as Jessica Rabbit (uncredited)
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Amy Irving
as Jessica Rabbit's (Singing)
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Lou Hirsch
as Baby Herman
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Mel Blanc
as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Sylve...
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Morgan Deare
as Editor Bongo the Gorilla
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Mae Questel
as Betty Boop
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Tony Anselmo
as Donald Duck
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Joe Alaskey
as Yosemite Sam
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June Foray
as Wheezy Lena Hyena
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Richard Williams
as Droopy
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Wayne Allwine
as Mickey Mouse
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Russie Taylor
as birds, Minnie Mouse
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Tony Pope
as Goofy Wolf
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Cherry Davis
as Woody Woodpecker
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Peter Westy
as Pinocchio
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Frank Sinatra
as Singing Sword
- Andrew Bradford
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Pat Buttram
as Bullet
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Danny Capri
as Kid
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Edwin Craig
as Arthritic Cowboy
- Chris Fleischer
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Ed Herlihy
as Newscaster
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Lindsay Holiday
as Soldier
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David L. Lander
as Smart Ass
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Billy Mitchell
as Forensic
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Richard Ridings
as Angelo
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Paul Springer
as Augie
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April Winchell
as Mrs. Herman
- Peter Diamond
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Michael Edmonds
as Midget
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Jim Cummings
as Bullet
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Joel Cutrara
as Forensic
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Laura Frances
as Blonde Starlet
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Jim Gallant
as Bullet
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Eugene Guirterrez
as Teddy Valiant
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Christopher Hollosy
as Kid
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Fred Newman
as Stupid
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James O'Connell
as Conductor
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Les Perkins
as Toad
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Mary T. Radford
as Hippo
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Eric B. Sindon
as Mailman
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John-Paul Sipla
as Kid
- Del Baker
- Sadie Corre
- Richard LeParmentier




