Bully for Bugs

Bugs Bunny finds fun and hi-jinks at the big Carrot Festival in the Coachella Valley—or he would have had he not taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque. Instead, he ends up in a Mexican bullring during what can only be described as a bull-flight: the matador is a coward and the bull is one mean machine. Bugs is less impressed, but when he slaps the bull's face for steaming up his tail, the bull butts him out of the ring. "Of course you realize this means war." It will be a war of wits fought with such tools as an anvil; a slingshot; a rifle, elephant bullets; axle grease; and a crude Rube Goldberg device that employs TNT. Think the bull's brawn is a match for Bugs's brain? "What an ultra maroon!"

Chuck Jones and Michael Maltese made a bullfighting picture because their boss told them never to make bullfighting pictures; and we end up with this funny, memorable short that gives Bugs one heck of an intimidating opponent. This huge black bull is scary; and he seems to be forever posing for a toro edition of Muscle Magazine. Bugs has more nerve than I do. Give me Elmer Fudd as an adversary any day.

This short is available on the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume One," Disc 1.

This is a masterpiece, a veritable classic! Bugs is cast in the perfect situation with the bull as a perfect foil. Sight gags galore, including a bit with a rifle that is absolutely priceless! The ending is gloriously funny! Catch the look on the bulls' face in the last part of the closing bit, it's wonderful! Good to see it's available. You have to see this. Most highly recommended!

Bully for Bugs (1953)

*** (out of 4)

Fun Looney Tunes short has Bugs Bunny taking a wrong turn and ending up inside a bullring. Being a comedy, Bugs soon finds himself up against the meanest and toughest bull around. It seems everyone has a favorite Looney Tunes short and while I know this is a favorite to many, to me it's just a good one. Not classic but still very entertaining. There are many funny scenes but my favorite involves one of the final jokes of the bull going through a trap set by Bugs, which starts with some grease and ends with some TNT. The animation is very good as Jones keeps the action moving. Another strong gag deals with the bull accidentally swallowing a gun, which leads to some nice action.

I could watch this one a hundred times over and still laugh myself to tears. It is incredibly funny, perfectly timed and just when you expect it to become formulaic, the Jones crew start to throw in some comical curveballs (which I refuse to spoil here) My personal favorite Bugs Bunny short and one of the jewels of the WB catalog.

A brilliant Chuck Jones Bugs Bunny short that finds Bugs accidentily becoming a bull fighter and having to fight El Toro after he takes a wrong turn at the same place he always does. This is a hilarious Loony Tunes short and Even though this is El Toro's one & only appearence, He is still a fondly remembered character in the Looney Tunes stable. And rightly so.This cartoon is uncut on Disk 1 of the 'Loony Tunes Golden Collection' and also has a commentary track . On a side note as a kid, I enjoyed playing the one level of a Loony Tunes videogame for the PS2 that was based on this short as it was fun.

My Grade: A+