A different way of telling a story

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Shorty, a school-age rabbit who must have learned how to speak from Alvin and the Chipmunks, frantically (he does everything frantically) jumps into Bugs Bunny's rabbit hole to escape the clutches of the villainous, but extremely stupid, Pete Puma, whose distinctive speech climaxes in an ear-splitting screech. Pete tries to trick Bugs and Shorty with an exploding cigar. Doesn't work. The cigar says "El Explodo" right on the wrapper. He tries to trick them by disguising himself as Shorty's mother. Doesn't work either. His rabbit ears are leaves that are inelegantly affixed to his hat. How can this poor, pathetic puma win the day? Smarter opponents than he have failed to outwit the wily Bugs Bunny.This was not a great picture, but all Warner Brothers cartoon fans remember it for a great character. He appeared only in this film: Pete Puma. Stan Freberg's voice, with that hilarious (and fun-to-imitate) screeching, is the main reason for Pete's enduring popularity. The secondary reason is the hilarious animation. That incredible semi-dance Pete does, when he enters as the mother, is sublime.This cartoon is available on the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume One," Disc 1.

"Shorty," a little rabbit, comes racing into Bugs' hole seeking shelter and help. A ferocious monster, according to the fast-talking little hare, is after him. Bugs figures it is "Pete Puma," and goes to investigate. Sure enough, it is, and Pete -with a funny voice - tells Bugs he's after a little rabbit who is going to eat. Bugs asks him, "Wouldn't you rather have a big rabbit?"Bugs then torments the poor, dumb sap, which is how the orange puma is portrayed. I'll tell ya, this Puma was a funny guy. He dresses up as Shorty's mother, trying the lure the little one, and is hilarious. However, poor Pete isn't smart enough to pull off any ploy...and pays the price each time.Puma's voice (by Stan Freberg) was probably the highlight of this so-so cartoon. Using English subtitles to translate the super-speed-voice little rabbit helped, too.

Not every Bugs Bunny cartoon was a full-scale masterpiece, and "Rabbit's Kin" is an example. It has Bugs protecting a small rabbit from a hungry, slow-witted puma, whom he frequently gives lumps...on the head. It seems like the whole cartoon is sort of a one-joke premise, and the little guy tries a little too hard to be cute. My favorite scene is Bugs in puma drag (that scwooey wabbit liked to dress up in drag, didn't he?).So, this cartoon isn't terrible, just a little weaker than what we expect from the Looney Tunes cartoons. OK if there's absolutely nothing else to do (although there are far better cartoons on the Golden Collection, where you can find it).That puma just seemed like he'd been lobotomized or something.

Another merely so-so Robert McKimson short that can't hold it's own when held against other Looney Tunes shorts. This time Bugs Bunny foils Pete Puma after he tries to catch Bug's nephew, Shorty. I don't care for Pete Puma and I don't like whenever one of Bug's nephews show up. Really only one somewhat funny joke stretched out for too long. This cartoon is uncut on Disk 1 of the 'Loony Tunes Golden Collection' and also has a commentary track (with the voice of Pete Puma) as well as a music-only track. On a side note, Pete Puma in drag is more then a little bit disturbing to see. Also Pete Puma showed up again in that dreadful "Tiny Toons" show.My Grade: c