The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is a funny, optimistic, well-animated, and cataclysmic origin story of Daffy Duck and Porky Pig (both voiced by Eric Bauza). Following these cartoon-classic leads growing up on a farm with parent-like Farmer Jim (Fred Tatasciore), Daffy and Porky must contend with adult living as they struggle to keep and clean their inherited home amid an alien invasion. Nearby, a scientist telescopically observes a massive Earth-hurtling asteroid, in which a smaller but much faster green orb propels behind from before crashing through Daffy and Porky’s roof down to earth. The scientist gets infected by green alien goop sent by cackling green alien The Invader (Peter MacNicol), who plans to infect the world’s #1 gum company’s most popular product with such goop to zombify them. After growing up as opposites—with Porky the responsible caretaker and Daffy the slightly reckless and very destructive free spirit—Porky and Daffy must contend with their differences to both save the world from destruction and their home from governmental reacquisition given their missing roof. Plus, with anti-big-gum pig scientist Petunia Pig (Candi Milo) thrown into the mix, the pair both have a new brilliant member on their team and Porky has a budding love interest mostly unseen before—making Blew Up an excitingly funny and slightly socially poignant feature Looney Tunes installment.

Looney Tunes has been around for a long time. From the original theatrical shorts to various TV shows on different cable channels (and now streaming platforms) to the multiple feature films produced (whether directly Looney or included, like in the Space Jam duo), Looney Tunes has been entertaining and commenting for decades. Now, Blew Up refreshes the typical Looney formula by unexpectedly bonding Daffy and Porky in this sentimental origin story.

Blew Up starts with a blow up in the pair’s family; a brief montage displaying their antics with Farmer Joe’s reactions consistently painted in, giving him an air of honor and dignity that a duck and pig should strive for. But with him gone, their beacon dissipates, and their weaknesses overshadow their relationship—and the truth of their potential impending doom. For example, Daffy discovers the gum-terrorizing enemy as he stumbles on the zombified scientist in the building, who ignores Daffy’s witty introduction with a slurred “chew.” He then sees bystanders buy packs of gum from a newspaper stand, all twitching and pink-colored-eye-blinking into the same zombified state as the scientist. Upon revealing the terror to Porky, Porky berates him: “We don’t have time for your antics, Daffy!” he yells. Even in battle, Porky restricts Daffy from helping: “Uh jus-just-just keep laying those eggs!” Porky yells to a sidelined Daffy after hiding their stock. Yet, in a predictable but heartwarming fashion, Daffy’s destructive vein saves them. With hammers in full swing, Porky fully accepts Daffy after his twitchily executed escape.

Their friendship beats the odds, and though they may not be as much a team as they imagined, the friendship is enough for them to carry on. Throw in the chippily bright Petunia Pig, with enough charm, institutional rebellion, and Porky-matched awkwardness that makes her a daring new character, sharply colorful animation, astounding gags, a few pointed nods towards themes like workers vs. CEOs in the U.S., and a hilarious alien performance by Peter MacNicol makes this a kinda-modern, kinda-prequel Looney Tunes flick.

The Day the Earth Blew Up certainly blows up some wrongs. Some gags are too dark for such a PG flick, Porky’s stutter origin is traumatic but neglected, and more time could’ve been spent polishing the film’s thematic interplay—it teeters between a workers’ awareness animation and an unquestioning, corporate-feeling flick to please company heads. Nonetheless, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is a rejuvenating feature Looney flick that entertains most of the time, questions some of the time, and envelopes you in its charming leads all the time. Blew Up is joyously explosive for Looney Tunes fans, cartoon fans, and those looking for a cheery adventure through space and bubble gum.

Opens Friday, 3/14 @ AMC Assembly Row and South Bay