Looney Tunes: Back in Action (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the film score to the 2003 live-action animated comedy film Looney Tunes: Back in Action directed by Joe Dante starring Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Steve Martin, Timothy Dalton, Joan Cusack and Heather Locklear. The original score is composed by Jerry Goldsmith in his final film as a composer before his death in July 2004. The score album was released through Varèse Sarabande on November 18, 2003.
Contents
Background
Dante's frequent collaborator Jerry Goldsmith scored Looney Tunes: Back in Action. The score was recorded at the Warner Bros. Eastwood Scoring Stage and Todd-AO studios during September–October 2003. It consisted of several short cues that incorporates music from Looney Tunes composed by Carl W. Stalling, excerpts from Raymond Scott's instrumental "Powerhouse" and several classical compositions, which included works from Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Strauss II amongst other composers, all of them being arranged by Cameron Patrick. Due to Goldsmith's failing health, John Debney provided music at the last reel of the film, although Goldsmith remained as the sole composer in the marketing material of the CDs. Debney received an "additional music" in the closing credits and "special thanks" in the soundtrack album credits. Goldsmith died in July 2004, making Looney Tunes: Back in Action his last film he scored in his career.
Release
The soundtrack was released on November 18, 2003, through Varèse Sarabande record label. A deluxe edition was issued on January 8, 2021, featuring several unreleased cues and outtakes of alternate music.
Reception
Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks wrote "Goldsmith's slapstick material for this film is well developed but not as concise and enjoyable as his own standard of classic parody in The 'Burbs, nor does it have the same electronic creativity. That's likely due, once again, to the speed at which the scenes and moods in Looney Tunes: Back in Action change. It's a very specific sound for a very specific mood, and it should best be left for the marvel of its own construction rather than expectations of a coherent listening experience. With the rejection of Goldsmith's score for the underachieving Timeline earlier in the year, this was his only completed screen credit in 2003, and when he succumbed to his cancer the following summer, Looney Tunes: Back in Action became an arguably unceremonious conclusion to a great career." James Southall of Movie Wave called it "the most energetic and most "fun" score of 2003 without question, a delightful collection of magical moments. It's just so full of excitement and life. Jerry Goldsmith certainly is back in action."
Konstantinos Sotiropoulos of Soundtrack Beat wrote "The globetrotting adventure demanded one of Goldsmith's zaniest scores ever, a sort of indescribable combination of slapstick, action and whimsy that lurches from high-energy symphonic chases to pop-influenced flourishes to Carl Stalling-styled "Mickey Mousing". All of it has Goldsmith's effortlessly melodic touch, with the special brand of left-field inspiration that always accompanied his work for Dante." Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote "A fun and often creative score, Looney Tunes: Back in Action may actually be better than the film for which it was composed." Brian Lowry of Variety wrote "augmented, to the extent it can be, by the always reliable Jerry Goldsmith's score."
Track listing
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes: