The Million Hare (1963)

Too much of everything

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

"The Million Hare" is a Warner Bros. short film from 1963 directed by the famous Robert McKimson and starring the voice talent of the even more famous Mel Blanc. This one already had its 50th anniversary a couple years ago and, even if others may think differently, I believe that this little movie is evidence of Looney Toons still going strong in the 1960s. Sure there could have been more wit, but the chaotic and slapstick comedy is still working nicely and pretty funny on some occasions, plus the ending is kinda entertaining. Poor Daffy! It is about two pals going against each other in a race to a television studio, so the winner gets one million bucks. Will our two heroes' friendship survive this race. Watch for yourself. I enjoyed it and give it a thumbs-up. Certainly worth seeing for cartoon lovers.

Lesser Bugs & Daffy short, made during the DePatie-Freleng period and directed by Robert McKimson. The plot involves a TV game show called "Beat Your Buddy." The premise of the show is that the announcer draws the names of two buddies and the first one to make it to the studio wins a prize. Not surprisingly, the announcer draws the names of Bugs and Daffy, who are watching the show at home. The two race to the studio, sabotaging each other along the way. The animation is colorful but flat with a sketchy style that I don't care for. The music, by Bill Lava, is generic and uninspired. The voice work is solid but I would expect no less from the great Mel Blanc. None of the gags are particularly funny and, worse, there are no good lines for Bugs or Daffy. The final joke is just dumb. Really this feels very tired and forced. I mean, it's just six minutes of your life so what's the harm, but don't expect much.

I am a big fan of the Looney Tunes cartoons, and particularly of Bugs and Daffy. However, The Million Hare didn't entirely work out. Granted, there are worse cartoons(ie. Devil's Feud Cake, See Ya Later Gladiator), but The Million Hare is light years from being up there with the best. Bugs(not entirely sure about his greedy side though) and Daffy are both great, especially Daffy, and Mel Blanc's voices are excellent. The animation while not amazing was pretty decent particularly in the colours and the music has a good amount of energy. They're not the problems. It's the writing, story and pacing that bring The Million Hare down. The story is predictable and is never quite sure of what direction genre-wise it wants to follow, and the writing feels tired and flabby, at best there may be the odd amusing line but that's it, while the cartoon feels rather pedestrian in the pace. All in all, disappointing but watchable. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny are sitting at home watching a game show on tv when their names are pulled out of the hat to take part in the million dollar mate race - a race between two friends to be the first to get to the studio and claim the prize. And so the race begins!Bugs and Daffy are two of my favourite characters and I do like that they have done a few cartoons together. Daffy is usually cast as cynical and bitter with Bugs, rather than the crazy duck that I actually prefer; but he's great in either role. Here he is the greedy duck and that sparks the race to the studio.The jokes are OK but they require Bugs to be as greedy as Daffy - something I didn't really buy in this cartoon, but it doesn't matter too much. The gags are based around one-upmanship between Daffy and Bugs and they are quite funny even if the material isn't that great.The cartoon is amusing and features two of the funniest characters from Warner Brothers. Even if it isn't the best example of what they can do it is still worth seeing and has a good punch line.