Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Critical reaction

Although test screenings proved disastrous, Roger Rabbit opened to generally positive reviews on June 21 1988. Both Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert included the film on their lists of ten favorite films of 1988, with Ebert calling it "sheer, enchanted entertainment from the first frame to the last - a joyous, giddy, goofy celebration" http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19880622/REVIEWS/806220301/1023.

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June 21 - 1988 - Gene Siskel - Roger Ebert

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While Who Framed Roger Rabbit is considered a modern film classic, the film has also had its share of criticism. Much of the criticism revolves around the inconsistent tone of the film: the juxtaposition of the zany cartoon characters and the rough film noir story they appear in. While a blend between the two was the intended result of the producers, some people feel that the tone of the film deviates too much to properly identify it as either a film for children or a film for adults (However, Kingdom Hearts, which was another Disney crossover, would later succefully combine zany cartoon characters with a darker (At least in Disney standards) storyline and blend both elements together with a consistent tone.). While sex and violence were very prominent in Golden Age animation, the more blatant and saturated usage of such elements in this film, particularly in the characters of Jessica Rabbit (sex) and Judge Doom (violence), make many American parents and viewers unaccostumed to seeing such elements in animation uncomfortable.

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Film noir - Kingdom Hearts

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The film's finale, during which its main characters are essentially tied to a rope waiting to be sprayed by a hose, was cited as being weak and unimaginative (Gray).

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The film's animation is also accused of using too much superfluous movement. Held cels are very rarely used in Roger Rabbit, and most of the animation is on "ones" (each frame is animated, as opposed to the cheaper, more familiar method of animating every other frame, i.e. "twos"). Even when characters are standing still, they continue to move (particularly Roger, whose ear movements were based upon ballet patterns), and some animators and animation artists have cited the extra movement as unnecessary and distracting.

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Ballet - Animator

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The movie won four Academy Awards: Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing, Best Effects, Visual Effects, Best Film Editing and a Special Award for Richard Williams for "animation direction and creation of the cartoon characters". The film received four futher nominations: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

Related Topics:
Academy Awards - Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing - Best Effects, Visual Effects - Best Film Editing - Richard Williams - Best Art Direction-Set Decoration - Best Cinematography

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