Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters is a compilation movie of spooky Looney Tunes cartoons bridged together by a story in which Daffy has to become an honest businessman and “provide a service to the community” in order to retain his multi-million dollar inheritance from the late J.P. Cubish or he will lose it. From the afterlife, Cubish has the ability to make the money disappear, so Daffy decides the service he will provide the community is ridding the Earth of ghosts, like Cubish. Yet moments later, Daffy claims to think those who have seen a ghost are crackpots, even though he interacts with one. Not that Looney Tunes need to do anything beyond make a viewer laugh, but having an internal logic is nice.
Buy Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters Blu-rayDaffy brings on Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and Sylvester to help his paranormal business. Assignments include Porky and Sylvester investigating ghosts [from “Claws for Alarm” (1954)], Daffy dealing with a lady and a house possessed [“The Duxorcist” (1987)], Bugs going to Transylvania and encountering a vampire [“Transylvania 6-5000” (1963)], and Bugs and Daffy going to the Himalayas in search of the Abominable Snowman [“The Abominable Snow Rabbit” (1961)]. To no surprise of longtime watchers, Daffy proves to be his own worst enemy and loses his business and fortune.
Other cartoons used in the movie include “Daffy Dilly” (1948), “The Prize Pest” (1951), “Water, Water Every Hare” (1952), “Hyde and Go Tweet” (1960) in which Tweety drinks Dr. Jekyll potion, “Punch Trunk” (1953), and “Jumpin’ Jupiter” (1955). Some have been edited, including lines redubbed, in service to the movie’s story. Quackbusters is notable for being the last theatrical production legendary voice actor Mel Blanc performed these characters.
The Blu-ray offers the Theatrical and Matinee Version, the difference being the latter opens with “The Night of the Living Duck” (1988), in which Daffy dreams of performing at nightclub where famous monsters are in attendance. Mel Torme provides the singing voice.
Taken from a 2K scan interpositive, he video is available in 1080p/MPEG-4 AVC displayed in the original aspect ratio of 1.37:1. Noticeably pieced together from different elements and styles over 40 years, colors look quite good. Blacks are inky and whites accurate, contributing to a consistent quality of contrast. Backgrounds have various levels of detail and object outlines. The image looks clean throughout with mild film grain. The audio is available in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Dialogue is clear, although the change in Blanc’s voice over decades and the blending of new voices with archival music, which can sound compressed, are apparent.
Special Features present seven WB cartoons featuring various characters from the late 20th century. “The Night of the Living Duck” (1988), “The Duxorcist” (which appears in the film), “Invasion of the Bunny Snatchers” (1992) with Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam, “(Blooper) Bunny” (1991), “Duck Dodgers and the Return of the 24 ½ Century” (1980), “Superior Duck” (1986), and “Little Go Beep” (2000) with Baby Wile E. Coyote and Baby Road Runner. Theatrical trailer.
While completists will prefer unexpurgated versions of these cartoons, as would I, Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters is an amusing collection and serves as a good introduction to Looney Tunes. The Blu-ray is offers good video and serviceable audio due to the sound elements not blending well. Extra cartoons are a nice bonus but would have liked some from the classic era.
