TheLittleSongbird
Bugs and Elmer always work well together and are enough to brighten up a hard day. And Fresh Hare, a very early effort(one of their first I believe), is no exception. Bugs is as crafty yet likable as he ever was, and while somewhat smarter than usual Elmer contrasts and works to great effect with him. Mel Blanc and Arthur Q. Bryan voice them impeccably. Several other great things work in Fresh Hare's favour. The animation is detailed and luscious, of course Elmer is fatter than we usually see him and Bugs more elongated but they are still well drawn within this stage in Looney Tunes animation. The music is full of energy and character, and is always pleasant on the ears. The dialogue is as witty and funny as ever, and the gags are clever and imaginative. The story is simple but with never a dull spot, it is fun all the way through. I do agree though that the ending is random and rather awkward(some may also find it tasteless). Overall with this in mind, Fresh Hare is great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Lee Eisenberg
In "Fresh Hare", an obese Elmer Fudd is a Mountie and out to get Bugs Bunny. Needless to say, Bugs isn't going to get trapped so easily. This is just one of many cartoons showing why the Looney Tunes outdid the Disney stuff easily. The scene where Bugs "drops" Elmer out of the service is enough to make anyone die laughing, as is the scene where they run through the ice. There is, however, one scene likely to make us nervous - and possibly doubt the whole cartoon - in the 21st century: at the end, they do a minstrel show, complete with black-face. But other than that, the whole thing's a hoot. Truly classic.Like Michael Moore reminds us: Canada is the greatest place on Earth.
TheOtherFool
Elmer Fudd is a mountie on Bugs Bunny hunt (what else, really), as Bugs is wanted for several 'crimes' in the area. He finally finds and cuffs him but somehow Bugs switches himself with a bomb so poor Elmer is blown up... yet again.Several chases follow, and this is a very funny part. They both crash in and out snow-walls, leaving funny figures. See it for yourself, very amusing.The ending is a bit weird, as Bugs feels sorry for Elmer and turns himself in. While standing for a death-squad he is asked if he has one last wish. He has, and it somehow includes dressing up and singing a song, but I didn't really get that.Some nice chases and a fun cartoon: 7/10.
Chip_douglas
You know the quality is going to be above average when a cartoon starts with an big orchestral intro and a still picture to complement the titles. Bugs Bunny, looking slightly less cute than he would in later years (and still having to be content with his name under the titles) evades and tricks Elmer the Mountie at every turn. Back in these days Elmer was so overweight he had to wear a girdle. But if you look closely you can actually see him sweating off those pounds during the wild chase scenes.In the forties the Warner Studios were still competing with Disney to produce the best looking animation around. It is obvious a lot of thought and care went into the backgrounds and character animation. Yet they still could not compare to the competition. However when it came to gags the Merry Melodies were unbeatable. There are probably more jokes crammed into these 7 minutes than in any 7 Disney cartoons of the same era. Only the final scene involving a black and white minstrel show feels a bit awkward nowadays, for we like to forget that these totally incorrect programmes ever existed. In fact it was not until the late Sixties that this type of shows was banned, about the same time the Merry Melodies ended their run.
7 out of 10
AD
