Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a world where cartoon characters are real. It mainly focuses on a Private I. Eddie Valient (Bob Hoskins) and a cartoon rabbit, Roger (voiced by Charles Fleischer). The movie is set in LA 1947. We follow Eddie who must prove Roger's innocence in the murder of a studio executive.



Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a mixture of many genres, but it never forgets that it's a mystery first. A bluesy jazz beat frequently follows Eddie. A playful sax plays as we learn more about him. He returns home and collects his mail, "mostly bills," the mailman says. Eddie throws them in the trash. When we first see Eddie he sips from his flask and puts it back in his holster. We understand there hasn't been a gun in there for awhile (he probably can't afford the bullets). Later a police officer comments, "Didn't you used to be Eddie Valient? Or did you change your name to Jack Daniels?"

Someone asks of Eddie, "What's his problem?"

"Toon killed his brother," his off again girlfriend Dolores (Joanna Cassidy) says. "Dropped a piano on his head."


That creates a lot of animosity between Eddie and Roger. Roger fully believes a toon's job is to make people laugh. We meet him smashing his head for a director who wants Roger to show cartoon stars above his head when he gets hit with a fride. "Looook! *smash* Looook! *smash* Loooooooook! *smash*" Roger pleads.

Eddie is done laughing.

When Eddie goes home we see him look through some photos. Many pics are old. He glances through and sees a picture him and Dolores on their trip five years ago to Catalina. He smiles. The Eddie in the photos is a prankster. Eddie is beaming, reminded of his old self. Then he sees a picture of him and his brother wearing straw hats playing ukuleles. His lip quivers. Eddie looks forward wistfully to where his brother used to sit.

You wouldn't have necessarily caught where Eddie was looking unless you were re-watching the film. It's the kind of film designed for re-watching. Designed for DVD extras. The filmmakers not only have cartoons alongside live actors, but also their shadows. Watch the scene where Eddie hides Roger in the bar's rotgut room. Eddie hits the lamp with his head and the lamp swings back and forth. Disney made the animators add all the changing shadows.


Of all the films I've re-watched this one was probably the most bold. I remember seeing Jessica Rabbit perform for the first time as a kid. The sultry leg that appears from behind the curtain. That shimmering dress. When she grabs Eddie's tie and pulls him close to her face before she softly releases her final note.

I read that Jessica Rabbit was based the cartoon Red Hot Riding Hood, and three actresses: Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake and Lauren Bacall. You can see those first three as image inspirations while Bacall was attitude. There's a lot of thought and rich history the creators put into the movie. Betty Boop appears in that Jessica Rabbit scene. She is voiced by the original voice actress Mae Questel. Eddie hates toons, but when he sees Betty he respectfully tells her "you still got it." Betty closes his mouth for him while he stares at Jessica.


My mouth at the time was probably agape much like Eddie's. I'm sure my mouth remained open for the rest of the film. I remember it terrified me. Toons melted and killed in barrels. Those horrifying maniacal red eyes of the main villain.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit taught me that magical quality of cinema. That irresistible wonder that draws us and makes us come back. As I sorted through my list preparing for this week of posts I put this one last deliberately. Even years later, I couldn't wait to see it again.


This post part of a collaboration project between 2dreviews and 2guys1movie. Jim and Puneet have kindly allowed me to experience their "1 movie + 1 review a day" for one week. Over on my site I do an "Auto-Film-Biography" that follows the movies I watched as a kid that made me love movies. Thanks very much to Jim and Puneet for allowing me to continue that project here for a week as a guest writer!