Plot
Warner Bros. attempted to revitalize its animation division with this family adventure that blended live action and animation in the style of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), reportedly coming in with a price tag of $100 million. Basketball legend Michael Jordan stars as himself, a retired sports hero trying his hand at baseball and failing miserably. Meanwhile, the Looney Tunes gang, led by Bugs Bunny, are kidnapped by aliens called the Nerdlucks. It seems that the Nerdlucks' theme park, Moron Mountain (a barely-veiled dig at Disney) is failing to attract customers. The space invaders are convinced that the appearance of Bugs and his pals Porky Pig and Speedy Gonzalez will beef up business. Bugs makes his captors a deal -- they'll play a game of basketball for their freedom. When the Nerdlucks stack the deck by pilfering the talent of NBA superstars Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing, the Warner Bros. heroes enlist the aid of Jordan, who returns to the court to help the classic characters. While he prepares to play, Jordan is aided by fellow celebrity Bill Murray. Director Joe Pytka previously created many of the television commercials that featured Jordan as a paid endorser. ~ Karl Williams, RoviReview
Many lesser basketball stars have graced the big screen, so it was almost a surprise that it took Michael Jordan this long. But it should be no surprise that Space Jam isn't half the fun of simply watching one of Jordan's highlight reels. For all his choreographed jams in dunk contests, Michael Jordan found his greatest glory during moments of in-game improvisation, when his stunning talent manifested itself as pure instinct. In a semi-animated movie, the necessarily careful staging removes the wonder from Jordan's repertoire, leaving only generic feats of above-average athleticism that have no real-world reference point. Of course, Space Jam is not meant as a highlight reel, rather, an opportunity to promote the persona of Michael Jordan and revive a cast of beloved Warner Brothers cartoons that haven't been dusted off in years. On these scores it's also weak, even with R. Kelly singing "I Believe I Can Fly" as urgently as anyone could want. Trying to insinuate themselves into a sophisticated world of animation that has passed them by, the characters seem like relics, their old-fashioned quips as tired as the hand joints of the animators who draw them. Where Space Jam does find a few laughs is in the cameos of other NBA players, notably Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing, who struggle humorously with methods to recoup their stolen basketball skills. It's while spoofing himself that Jordan is also most effective, including some good-sport jabs at his brief and comical foray into professional baseball. ~ Derek Armstrong, RoviCast
- Michael Jordan - Himself
- Charles Barkley - Himself
- Wayne Knight - Stan Podolak
- Patrick Ewing - Himself
- Theresa Randle - Juanita
- Muggsy Bogues
- Billy West - Elmer Fudd
- Bill Murray
- D. Bradley Baker - Tazmanian Devil
Credit
David F. Klassen - Art Director, Bruce W. Smith - Animation Director, Jane Jenkins - Casting, Janet Hirshenson - Casting, Sheldon Kahn - Co-producer, Gordon A. Webb - Co-producer, Curtis Polk - Co-producer, Marlene Stewart - Costume Designer, Austin McCann - First Assistant Director, Joe Pytka - Director, Sheldon Kahn - Editor, David Falk - Executive Producer, Ken Ross - Executive Producer, James Newton Howard - Composer (Music Score), Geoffrey Kirkland - Production Designer, Michael Chapman - Cinematographer, Daniel Goldberg - Producer, Joe Medjuck - Producer, Jerry Rees - Producer, Ivan Reitman - Producer, Jennifer Williams - Set Designer, Marco Rubeo - Set Designer, Cinesite - Special Effects, Ed Jones - Special Effects, James LaRue - Sound/Sound Designer, Gordon A. Webb - Unit Production Manager, Leo Benvenuti - Screenwriter, Timothy Harris - Screenwriter, Herschel Weingrod - Screenwriter, Steve Rudnick - Screenwriter, Harry Sabin - Scenic Artist, Gene S. Cantamessa - Production Sound Mixer| Space Invader (2008 Film), Space Goofs: Cartoon Tales (Film) | |
| Space Marines (1996 Film), Space Master X-7 (1958 Film) |
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