Warning: SPOILERS for The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie.
Marvin the Martian’s absence in The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie may seem surprising, but it makes sense given the film’s inspirations. Up until a major twist in The Day the Earth Blew Up’s ending, the story follows Daffy Duck and Porky Pig as they join Porky’s porcine paramour Petunia in trying to save Earth from an otherworldly invasion and a swarm of zombies created by alien chewing gum. The film also explores Porky and Daffy’s friendship while returning Daffy to his loonier characterization from earlier cartoons.
Despite The Day the Earth Blew Up’s positive reviews, a few elements have nonetheless received criticism, such as the occasional inclusion of infantile Ren & Stimpy-style humor. Additionally, between the sci-fi premise and the focus on the main protagonists of Looney Tunes’ “Duck Dodgers” cartoons, many fans of the original shorts naturally expected Marvin the Martian to make at least a cameo appearance. This unfortunately never happens, but the film’s overall story presents rather clear reasons as to why Marvin’s appearance wouldn’t have actually worked.
The Day The Earth Blew Up Introduces A New Martian Villain Instead Of Using Marvin
Earth’s Unnamed Invader Is An Entirely New Character
WB has arguably failed the Looney Tunes franchise in recent years, and the fact that The Day the Earth Blew Up was distributed by a different company doesn’t do much to combat that narrative. But one thing The Day the Earth Blew Up does well is recapture the original shorts’ frequent sendups of popular film genres. Director Peter Browngardt specifically cites Ed Wood as a major sci-fi influence, and the film’s zombie subplot certainly feels inspired by Plan 9 from Outer Space.
Likewise, new character “the Invader” recalls the snarling monsters from sci-fi horror movies. His toothy grin and pronounced veins evoke far more menace than Marvin’s stunted stature and Spartan skirt ever could, and there are several moments in which the film’s heroes feel like they’ve truly met their match. He even takes total control of Petunia for a time, creating a threat that wouldn’t fall in line with Marvin’s typical slapstick antics. Ironically, however, it’s when the Invader ceases being a threat that he truly justifies taking Marvin’s place as the film’s main villain.
Marvin The Martian Wouldn’t Work For The Day The Earth Blew Up’s Story
The Ending Twist Would Make No Sense For A Marvin Cartoon
Although The Day the Earth Blew Up’s budget is extremely limited compared to the franchise’s live-action films, it doesn’t shy away from delivering an explosive climax. This occurs after the film’s major twist that the Invader only took control of Earth to save it from destruction by a giant asteroid headed on a direct collision course. Such a climax somewhat mirrors Browngardt’s inspirations such as Plan 9 and The Day the Earth Stood Still, in which the invaders’ destructive plans are ultimately revealed to stem from nobler intentions.
Marvin the Martian first appeared in 1948.
This twist would never work with Marvin the Martian, who’s canonically been trying to destroy Earth for thousands of years. Additionally, as Browngardt explained to Space.com, The Day the Earth Blew Up is meant to have a relatively grounded emotional storyline without an abundance of slapstick. The Invader’s story helps set up the multiple emotional beats regarding Daffy and Porky’s friendship, whereas Commander X-2’s classic encounters with Duck Dodgers and Bugs Bunny were primarily vehicles for gags. A Marvin invasion movie would be fantastic, but it simply couldn’t be the type of invasion story Browngardt wanted to tell.
The Day The Earth Blew Up Subtly References Marvin’s Absence From The Looney Tunes Movie
He May Be Gone, But He’s Not Entirely Forgotten
Marvin may not receive an appearance or direct mention in Looney Tunes’ first fully animated theatrical release, but the script feels vaguely aware of his omission. When discussing how to stop the asteroid, the film’s unnamed “Scientist” is surprised to learn the Invader has no destructive weaponry on his ship. The Invader explains that he’s not some “unevolved explosives-carrying alien,” which makes him essentially Marvin’s direct opposite. Instead, the Invader’s plan to “blow up the Earth” is merely to blow up enough gum to coat the atmosphere so the asteroid will harmlessly bounce away upon impact.
The Invader also has his own version of “take me to your leader,” a sci-fi trope Marvin himself doesn’t commonly use but that’s been ᴀssociated with him through merchandising and Chuck Jones artwork. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie merely changes the phrase to “take me to your nearest teahouse” about the Invader’s love of boba. These loose and possibly reaching examples may not be the Marvin tributes many of us wanted, but it’s nice to think the creative team might’ve given at least some thought to fans’ disappointment before finalizing Marvin’s absence in the film.
Source: Space.com
