Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas

The only Christmas jingle greedy Daffy Duck, CEO of the Lucky Duck Superstore, likes is the sound of coins in the till. He works his employees to exhaustion and delights in raising prices on holiday merchandise. But before you can say "Ebenezer," Daffy will be visited by three ghosts who, in a time-honored tradition, inspire a more festive and giving attitude. From Mr. Magoo to the Muppets, from Mickey's Christmas Carol to Scrooged, Charles Dickens' holiday perennial has inspired countless contemporary adaptations and spoofs. So what does Bah, Humduck bring to the party? How about Yosemite Sam as the Ghost of Christmas Present? Or a sales staff comprised of Warner Bros. cartoon characters--some that you'll recognize (Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Marvin Martian, Speedy Gonzales), and others that you've hardly heard of (Gossamer, the orange monster introduced in the classic cartoon "Hair-Raising Hare," is store security). There are also memorable cameos by Sylvester the cat as the spectral harbinger of things to come for an unrepentant Daffy and that adorable penguin from "8-Ball Bunny." Bugs Bunny, unfortunately, has little to do other than chastise Daffy for his heartless ways. It takes a village to replace Mel Blanc, but the voice artists, including Joe Alaskey as Daffy, Billy West as Bugs, and Maurice LaMarche as Yosemite Sam (as well as the venerable June Foray as Granny), gamely capture these iconic animated personalities. Unfortunately, this is mostly a relentless onslaught of lame jokes and slapstick, but the uplifting message of Dickens' familiar tale still shines through. DVD extras include additional scenes. Optional. Aud: P. (D. Liebenson)