Coyote vs. Acme is the type of concept that simply doesn’t feel all that fresh in the franchise-tired era of reboots, nostalgia-fuelled, fan-servicing, brand-extending cash grabs. And, well, sufferin’ succotash, here we are, with a live-action animation hybrid that is, wait for it, absolutely fantastic.

And to think that Warner Bros. had decided to shelve this film for a freakin’ tax write-off.

The film finds the Looney Tunes characters living alongside humans – there’s no need for origin stories and elaborate explanations. It just is. When Wile E. Coyote has finally had enough of seeing every attempt to catch Road Runner thwarted by a never-ending array of malfunctioning products made by the corrupt ACME Corporation, he decides to hire small-time injury law firm Avery, Jones & Maltese. Seeing as the firm primarily focuses on small injury cases, the firm’s senior partner, Kevin Avery (Will Forte), is reluctant to take on the ACME giant.

An investigative legal-thriller structure proves to be just right for this imaginative new approach to the long-running Looney Tunes brand. The film hits the ground running (hehe) and keeps up the momentum with a story that smartly balances mystery, comedy and heart, while also managing to have things to say on a range of issues and themes, from late-stage capitalism, corporate greed and animal testing, to purpose, self-acceptance and perseverance. It’s an assured screenplay from Samy Burch (May December), working from a story she crafted with James Gunn and Jeremy Slater.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and Earth to Echo helmer Dave Green strikes the right balance of humour, action and nostalgia with Coyote vs. Acme. It’s an energetic, funny and tonally assured ride, brought to life with imaginative, colourful visuals that comfortably bridge the cartoon world and its live-action surroundings. Green also has an infectious cast that adds to the proceedings with warm performances. Forte provides an effortlessly likeable performance, serving as a grounded and heartfelt anchor to help steer the narrative. Nice supporting work from Lana Condor and John Cena, too, with the latter proving to be an enjoyable baddie as ACME lawyer Buddy Crane.

But really, we’re here for the Looney Tunes, and the film offers up an array of characters and nods aplenty for fans of the beloved franchise. Perhaps some of the fan faves may be left by the wayside – seeing as the focus here is on Wile E. Coyote and a few other characters – but there are many Easter eggs and wink-wink acknowledgements that Looney Tunes devotees will appreciate. And it almost goes without saying, Coyote himself is given a lovely, surprisingly earnest exploration, one that beautifully encapsulates the film’s emotional throughline.

How much mileage viewers get out of all this may depend, at least somewhat, on their relationship with Looney Tunes. There’s plenty here to enjoy on its own terms, but longtime fans are likely to get an extra kick out of the way the film plays with familiar character traits, running gags and the peculiar logic that has always governed this world. Rather than simply dropping recognisable faces in for applause, Coyote vs. Acme finds genuinely clever ways to unpack and build on aspects of the franchise that fans have been watching for decades.

Coyote vs. Acme nails the family-film factor, and not simply as a genre term. This genuinely feels like a FAMILY film, with enough slapstick, Looney Tunes chaos and colourful spectacle for younger viewers, while the writing, performances and surprisingly heartfelt ideas give adults plenty to latch onto as well. Funny, inventive and more emotionally engaging than its premise might suggest, this is the kind of big-hearted crowd-pleaser that deserved to be seen rather than locked away on a studio shelf.