Weekend Event Planner

These are the 7 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

It's the long Easter holiday weekend, and while many events in and around Dallas have either been postponed or canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizations have pivoted to virtual or socially-distanced events to continue offering the masses some entertainment.

From outdoor concerts to holiday feasts, below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend, all of which promise to provide a nice distraction from the everyday life.

Thursday, April 1

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Art Heist
Based on a true story of the world’s biggest art caper, Art Heist is a true crime walking show where socially distanced groups will walk to multiple locations to gather clues. Actors, through conversation, will reveal clues to the detective audience, but a red herring or two might present itself. No two performances will ever be the same as the actors improvise with every interaction. The theatrical event, which starts at Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, will run every Wednesday-Sunday through April 18.

Lumedia Musicworks presents Dowland Reimagined
Lumedia Musicworks will present Dowland Reimagined, a modern take on the work of John Dowland featuring new commissioned work by young composer Mason Bynes. Bynes, a graduate of the University of North Texas, drew inspiration from Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfá and vocal stylings of Brazilian artists Joyce and Maria Rita. The virtual concert, featuring soprano Eliza P. Smith, will be available to stream at any time through April 9.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Cool Thursdays Concert Series
After a year off due to the pandemic, Dallas Arboretum's Cool Thursdays Concert Series will come back to offer a variety of party and cover bands performing on the banks of White Rock Lake. The series, which kicks off with Emerald City on Thursday, will take place every Thursday through July 1, take a break for a couple of months, and then come back for the fall starting September 2. The Arboretum also has a full weekend of Easter happenings; check them out here.

Echo Theatre presents The Other Felix
In The Other Felix, viewers can hit the road with private detective Marlow Sharpe and her reluctant client Felix Bettelman. On the trail of the other Felix, they lose track of their selves in this play on film for two actors. Guests can attend the Opening Night Fundraiser outside at the Bath House Cultural Center Lake Shore Patio with a $25 VIP Ticket or attend any other Saturday night in April for free. The production will be available to stream at any time, April 1-30.

Friday, April 2

Disney on Ice presents Mickey's Search Party
Mickey Mouse and his friends will be on hand at Disney On Ice presents Mickey’s Search Party, an adventure filled with world-class skating, high-flying acrobatics, and unexpected stunts. They will follow Captain Hook’s treasure map and look for clues in the search for Tinker Bell in immersive, fantastic worlds featuring a variety of other classic Disney characters. There will be eight performances through Sunday at American Airlines Center.

Saturday, April 3

Hyena's presents T.J. Miller
T.J. Miller has been diligently working to make people laugh for over 15 years, and is driven by the altruistic mission statement that life is fundamentally tragic and the best thing he can do is provide an ephemeral escapism from that tragedy which permeates everyday life by doing comedy. Miller, best known for starring in Silicon Valley, the Deadpool series, and the How to Train Your Dragon series, will perform three times through Sunday at Hyena's Dallas.

Sunday, April 4

Easter Feasts
Whether you're enjoying Easter brunch at a restaurant or taking it to-go, there are plenty of options for groups of every size. You'll find our master list of Dallas-area restaurants serving Easter meals here.

Disney on Ice presents Mickey's Search Party will be at American Airlines Center, April 2-4.

Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Disney on Ice presents Mickey's Search Party will be at American Airlines Center, April 2-4.

concerts theater families event-planner holidays

Movie Review

Revived Coyote vs. Acme shows Looney Tunes’ enduring appeal

Photo courtesy of Ketchup Entertainment

Wile E. Coyote in Coyote vs. Acme.

No movie studio has gone through more ups and downs in the past few years than Warner Bros. In 2022, they oddly shelved two mostly-completed movies, Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt. But the next few years brought major movies like Barbie, Dune Part Two, Sinners, Superman, Weapons, and One Battle After Another, giving them a huge boost. Strangely, that led directly into a proposed sale to Paramount that is now going through legal battles.

Another previously-shelved Warner Bros. movie, Coyote vs. Acme, is now seeing the light of day thanks to a deal with a small company called Ketchup Entertainment. Taking its cue from the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, the film creates a world in which Wile E. Coyote - sick of constantly being thwarted in his pursuit of Road Runner by faulty Acme products - decides to sue the company.

To do so, he approaches the law firm of Avery, Jones & Maltese, led by Kevin Avery (Will Forte). The firm typically takes on small cases that are easy to settle, but - with a little subterfuge from Wile E. Coyote - they are soon presenting Acme and its lead attorney, Buddy Crane (John Cena), with a lawsuit that could be worth millions of dollars. Naturally, the big corporation won’t give in without a fight, leading to all sorts of shenanigans on both sides.

Directed by Dave Green and written by Samy Burch from a story by Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, the film is a fun mixture of nostalgia and clever storytelling. Most of Looney Tunes’ classic characters make an appearance in the film, including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, and Sylvester. The two, other than Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, who get the most play are Tweety, who appears in some of the movie’s funniest scenes, and Foghorn Leghorn, reimagined as the CEO of Acme.

The blend of live action and animation is not quite on the level of something like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, but it is still effective. It also affords the film plenty of opportunities to employ Looney Tunes’ signature brand of cartoon violence that doesn’t actually leave lasting damage. The gags are very familiar for those who grew up on the studio’s short films, but combined with the inventive ways in which they’re used and the pointed jabs at corporate culture, they become somewhat fresh again.

Naturally, there are plenty of references in the film, starting with the name of the law firm, which pays homage to legendary directors Chuck Avery and Chuck Jones, as well as writer/animator Michael Maltese. Sly jokes that could turn the film from PG to PG-13 sneak their way in, although they steer clear of elements that haven’t aged well (documented in a recent viral comedy clip). But the film is at its best when it leans into the well-earned traits of its favorite characters and just lets them cook.

Forte is a great scene partner for Wile E. Coyote, as he can turn even minor slights into comedy gold. His deadpan reactions are the ideal way to counter the insanity going on around him. Cena has proven in other films that he has great comic timing, and he demonstrates that skill well here, too, especially in a fantastic scene opposite Tweety. The voice talent does a good job with the iconic characters, although the legendary Mel Blanc remains the gold standard.

Coyote vs. Acme is not a world-changing movie by any means, but it is a fun twist on the characters many know and love that deserved to be seen by moviegoers. Wile E. Coyote may never actually catch Road Runner, but this movie shows that his unceasing attempts remain entertaining after all these years.

---

Coyote vs. Acme is now playing in theaters.

movies film