In 1996 a basketball player that is considered the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) teamed up with a group of Warner Bros. Animation stalwarts for a highly successful hybrid of animation and live-action that centered on basketball. Michael Jordan starred with Bugs Bunny and others from that animated cadre to great success in a film that is as beloved today as it was 25 years ago. Enter LeBron James, who himself is doing everything possible to be considered the GOAT himself after a stellar career that is showing no signs of slowing down at 37 years old.
James just moved to Los Angeles to join the Lakers (they have already won one championship) and he has his designs on the entertainment industry. What better way to enter that arena than with a long-gestating sequel to Space Jam and why now call it Space Jam: A New Legacy.
In this incarnation, James’ son is kidnapped by a madman (Don Cheadle, who nails his character to the fullest, although it was going to be easy to crew scenery). If the basketball superstar (who plays himself as Jordan did in the original) wants to see his son again, he must play in an exhibition game against some Looney Tones goons with the help of Bugs, Lola Bunny (Zendaya, from the upcoming Dune), Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Foghorn Leghorn, and other iconic characters, they have high hopes for defeating the baddies for a father and son to be reunited.
If the premise seems slightly the same, that is because it is… but this time out, the animation and the special effects are out of this world. That’s why this is a must-see, the visuals. They pop off the screen and accompany a relatively entertaining premise where the Lakers superstar shows he isn’t the best actor, but he is comfortable in the role that he is tasked with bringing to life.
The fun is throughout and for fans of James and especially the Looney Tones from Warner Bros. this is a nice continuation of the film that started it all 25 years ago with a player I think is a tad bit in a different league than LeBron. No offense, I love me my Lakers and James is currently at the heart of that. It’s just that Space Jam: Legacy feels a bit of a money grab with little that it is to offer that is wholesale and new. The thrills are intense, and the game is believable throughout that it would be that close, given how the baddies play the game.
Space Jam: Legacy has its own charm versus the original and that is the advancement in the technology that is charged with bringing this concept to life. There’s also a serviceable amount of humor that kids, in particular, will enjoy. The message about working together and coming as one to defeat something evil is one that will resonate with viewers, particularly those of the younger demo.
The film is told as a father-child tome and illustrates just how far a parent will go to ensure the safety of their child. This is a slightly different theme from the 1996 original and as such, gives it a little weight that the original was missing in hindsight.
There’s a slew of NBA and WBNA talent who make their presence felt, including James’ teammate Anthony Davis, Sue Bird, Draymond Green, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, and Diane Taurasi. The film is directed by a guy who knows a thing or two about storytelling, Malcolm L. Lee (Girls Trip, Night School) from a script by Tony Rettenmaier, Keenan Coogler, Terence Nance, James, and Juel Taylor.
For bonus features, there aren’t legions like there usually are for animated features.
There’s the typical Behind the Scenes featurette with Lee, producer Ryan Coogler, VFX supervisor Grady Coffee, producer Maverick Carter, makeup department head Howard Berger, music supervisor Kier Lehman, not to mention cast members such as Davis and James. It’s an insightful making-of that is worth your time and adds layers to the accomplishment that is the achievement of making such a hybrid of animation and live-action. Sadly, even if it wasn’t one we were asking for.
There’s a quartet of special features that are equally as informative as the previous one–First Quarter: Game On, Second Quarter: Teamwork—Third Quarter: Out of This World, and Fourth Quarter: The Looniest. It’s not earth-shaking content, but fascinating, nonetheless.
Film Grade: B-
Bonus Features: B-