When I was a kid, probably around 4 or 5, my father and I would gather around a television and put in a VHS tape. The content of this VHS tape would virtually become an everyday occurrence for my father and I. We would laugh and enjoy the spectacle of this wonderfully imaginative and hilarious film over and over again... and just when we thought we'd had enough... we watched it again. The film I am referencing is the 1988 hit
'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" starring Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd and Joanna Cassidy. The Robert Zemeckis ("Back to the Future" trilogy, "Forrest Gump") film beautifully combined live action and traditional animation to tell its comical story. The plot went like this: Los Angeles, 1947. Humans and cartoon characters (referred to as "toons") work side by side together in the real world, most of whom are hot shot actors. Roger Rabbit, the hottest "toon" actor in town, is at the top of his game. He's adored for his humor, works in the picture business and is married to the sexy Jessica Rabbit. Unfortunately, when owner of the Acme company and Toontown, Marvin Acme, is found murdered all fingers point Roger's way. It's up to a washed-up, alcoholic detective Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins) to prove Roger's innocence. Sounds simple enough, right? Anyways, the film itself was a marvelous achievement in the movie industry and it is still a film that I keep on the top of my personal favorites. Although, aside from its slapstick hilarity and colorful characters there was something else underneath the surface that even I picked up on at my tender age. Two words: Jessica Rabbit.

Roger's unbelievably sexy, seductive wife who mind you was an animated woman. Jessica Rabbit had it all. She had an unbelievable body, looks that could stop a man (human or animated) in his tracks and a singing voice that made you melt. Being as young as I was, I knew that there were very strong sexual vibes coming off of Jessica. Anytime I knew Jessica was about to enter a scene in the movie I would be adorned with a feeling of excitement followed by a feeling of embarrassment because Dad was right next to me every time I watched it. He knew something that he thought I didn't know. Walking, talking, glowing, animated sex was right before our eyes and I knew it... I knew it bad.



When that run of the mill, standard ice breaker of a question comes up of which animated character you'd most want to have sex with my answer is a simple and instantaneous one. Jessica Rabbit. Sure, you can say it, "that's perverted!" or go as far to find a picture of Jessica Rabbit and call it "cliche" but in truth it's really not. Obviously, Jessica Rabbit is irresistibly gorgeous and possess' the sexiest animated body these eyes have ever seen but there's more to it then that. Clearly, she has an attitude and a voice that could turn perfectly sane men into drooling moronic hound dogs. For instance, in the film when Eddie Valiant begins to assume that Jessica is behind her husband's blackmail she responds by saying: "I'm not bad... I'm just drawn that way". It still gives me butterflies in my stomach to this day. But, even so there's still more to this animated sexual icon. Roger Rabbit was a wacky, hilarious... rabbit who's duty in life was to make people laugh in the movies and in "real" life. Jessica stood next to her husband proudly and supported him dearly. At first glance it would seem as if these two could not possibly be in love with one another but they were. I certainly do not hate Roger Rabbit, in fact I adore him, I merely just have an overwhelming amount of jealousy towards him for the reason that he truly has it made. Roger and Jessica found each other, fell in love and are happily married... Why can't it always be that simple? Jessica accepted Roger for who he is (a rabbit) and what he stood for (making people laugh) no questions asked. It seems that sort of devotion for another person comes far and few in our "real" world but in the fictionalized realm of Los Angeles, 1947 anything seems possible. I will forever be jealous of Roger Rabbit for obtaining the love that he shares with the beautiful Jessica. I only have one brain buster for all you thinkers out there... Did the makers of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" realize that they were creating the "perfect woman" with Jessica Rabbit? As human beings we are taught that there is no such thing as a perfect person so was Jessica Rabbit just an "example" of what we will never obtain? If it's true it certainly is a shame. Perhaps things would all be easier if we were all "toons".