Carreras de Carreteras

As far as the mostly lacklustre at best (and that's being generous) Rudy Larriva-directed Roadrunner vs. Wile E.Coyote go, 'Highway Runnery' is not as bad as 'Shot and Bothered' and 'Tired and Feathered'.

'Highway Runnery's' one noteworthy moment is the fake egg disguising a bomb gag. Far from original of course, but it is the only moment that raises a small smile and is the best-timed of the gags. Coyote, who has always been the funnier and more interesting character of the two, is still reasonably rootable, with some expressions that amuse and affect. Although they didn't add anything necessarily the more elaborate sound effects were a nice touch.

Sadly, every flaw present in the mid-to-late-60s-Roadrunner-vs.Coyote outings is present in 'Highway Runnery', especially when the series on the whole is enjoyable and the best of the duo's cartoons have been brilliant. It's awfully cheap-looking, with both characters scrappily drawn, the colours all flat and garish and the backgrounds very sparse and a complete lack of visual imagination. Apart from one gag, 'Highway Runnery' lacks zip pacing-wise and the comedy is very tired and too reminiscent of what has previously been seen with Roadrunner and Coyote, except with none of the punch.

Bill Lava's music continues to irritate and sound discordant, repetitive and stockly orchestrated. The chemistry between the two characters just isn't there, and Roadrunner as is true with all of their later cartoons is annoying.

In conclusion, not a complete dud but almost. 3/10 Bethany Cox