More than any other Looney Tunes cartoon, "Rocket Squad" proves - in my opinion, at least - that they didn't have to do much to be hilarious. In this case, the setting is the space age (in fact, pretty much the same setting as "Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 Century") and humans now populate the entire universe. The men in charge of law enforcement are Sgt. Joe Friday (Daffy Duck) and his sidekick Sgt. Shmoe Monday (Porky Pig). Even though Friday never gets the time right, he always springs into action when called upon to stop crime. In fact, it's really easy, as the transport machine is labeled "Scene of the Crime". Having collected the evidence, they set out to find the perpetrator. Only there's a twist at the end.
Aside from the simple "Dragnet" spoof, it's just a riot how this cartoon offers a new gag every minute. Aside from the transporter, there's the no-parking sign, the chief on the TV, and the ubiquitous in-joke: the names of criminals features John Burton, Tedd Pierce, C.M. Jones, Mel Blanc and Eddie Selzer. No matter how irreverent they get, you can't assume that it's the limit.
I should identify that Daffy and Porky aren't their usual wacky selves here. In fact, they mostly stare and talk softly. Of course, since they're spoofing "Dragnet", they have to imitate it. And maybe the creators did sort of rip off "Duck Dodgers..." with the backgrounds, but that's no crime. This cartoon is a laugh riot the whole way through. I'm sure that the creators must have had a great time making it.
