Movie Review: Space Jam: A New Legacy

 

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

From 5 years ago, i reviewed Space Jam, the 1996 live action/animated involving Michael Jordan was asked by the Looney Tunes gang to save the world by playing basketball from the evil owner of "Moron Mountain" who sent the monster players called "MonStars". Pretty crazy and questionable idea at first, but hey, it made a lot of money and it became childhood favorite film, heck, i remember seeing this movie when i was like 12. Sure, they made another one called "Looney Tunes back in action", but it was nothing but a flop that this, along with Osmosis Jones (which it also bombed, very badly), it killed off Warner Bros. Feature Animation, right before they lightened up to making their second animation studio in 2013 with The Lego Movie that it happened to be a major success to bring back to their good'ol days of their full-length animated films, including one film that we all wishes to having a Space Jam sequel.

"Space Jam: A new legacy" is a 2021 live-action/animated sport comedy film that was directed by Malcolm D. Lee, produced by Ryan Coogler, Maverick Carter, Duncan Henderson and LeBron James (Yup, not only he acts in the movie, but also being credited as a producer), story written/screen-played by Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Keenan CooglerTerence Nance, then co-screen-played by Jesse Gordon and Celeste Ballard.

Before we have a film with LeBron James, we gotta go all the way back in the mid-late 90's. After the success of Space Jam, WB were opened to having a sequel with the return of Michael Jordan. in the original plan, Jordan and his Looney Tunes gang are facing against another evil alien named "Berserk-O!" for another basketball game, but Michael won't participating the project, which it felt like they've been lied about him joining in. They wanted to make another film with the title of "Jam" in it, like "Spy Jam" with Jackie Chan (which he refused to joining in), "Race Jam" with 4 times NASCAR Cup series champ Jeff Gordon (which it once again, rejected), which resulted to remake the project to "Looney Tunes: back in action" with Joe Dante as a director, but as i said before, it was nothing but a flop that it ruined the company for either poorly timed to released the film or a backstage politic between Dante and an animator Eric Goldberg (Or maybe its both).

Thankfully with the WB rebuild their animation studio, they were opened to make a sequel of Space Jam with LeBron James, which it will be a good casting choice, since James loved Space Jam so much back then and he was more than happy to joining it with Looney Tunes gang.

So, with all that said, will this movie will giving a us a perfect slamdunk, or is gonna be too much over the top and giving us a foul move than the first one?

Well, lets find out.

The Story

Since this is a new legacy (No pun attended), we expected to be the next over the top plot with our modern NBA star? Well, it does, but not in a good way.

The plot begins where young LeBron James was anticipated to play the game, despite got distracted from playing Gameboy (Mainly Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle) that he ended losing his concentration of his basketball skills, but he was learned by his coach for how to be himself as a professional basketball player, and he does, where he starting to getting better and successful in his NBA career with Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, back to Cleveland and to currently in LA Lakers, which he sold well for his dominating career to help the teams and his skills to became a 4th times champ. Fast forward to modern days where he has his kids to hang out and playing basketball, however, his son Dom is focusing more on video games than playing basketball, mainly to become a gaming developer, leaving LeBron felt concerns that he follows his different footsteps than a basketball path. After LeBron tried to play his son's game project with his trick that ended up crashing the character model (meaning the glitch that ended up being deleted), they received a message from Warner Bros to presenting "Warner 3000" featuring LeBron James himself, but James wasn't very pleased for the idea that comes off as exploitation, leaving his Dom felt unhappy and walked away from his father like a brat who can't "no" for an answer, resulting them chasing each other to the server station, where they got sucked in the digital world called "Serververse" (Really, dude?), where they meet an A.I. named Al-G Rhythm, who put Dom in hostage that if LeBron wants his son back, he's gotta play basketball with Looney Tunes gang (though he met Bugs first, then brought over his pals in different universe in WB's series), so its up to LeBron James and his Looney Tunes pals to challenging against Al-G's team "Goon Squad" to save the day.

Its rather nice to have a story taken place in digital world with crossover, but that's pretty much it for the setting. You wanna know why? Its the same thing as the original, only in modern time with multiverse of WB's properties that using it as a big deal with Looney Tunes, though il tell you about the presentation later on. Not to mention, they put some cliche plot elements in the film, it has a father and son relationship, where LeBron tries to build him up for his basketball career than a video game developer, and the whole "Be yourself" part for motivating as a basketball player than getting too much of playing video game. Its as if they tried to make something new while being similar to the first one, but ended up with a very poor execution result. Since this is a film with Looney Tunes, you think the humor of this film will be funny like in the good'ol days, right? Yeah, nope... Must of the jokes that i did chukcle at the time, but a lot of them are more of either pop-culture references, a rap jokes, some immature jokes or even self-aware, i know they tried, but most of which are just comes off as low-brow or even cringe.

It may have a good setting, but the writing feels so unoriginal and not to mention, it feels like a completely different film than Space Jam, which it'll leads us to the next segment for my later complaint.

The Presentation

I think it safe to say that the budget is more focus on presentation and animation than the writing.

Starting with the location, the filming location is not bad, with the use of Sheats–Goldstein Residence that was owned by James Goldstein, along with a tennis court changed into a basketball court for the shooting. And its pretty obvious when our NBA star jumped into the digital world, its all done with green screen, which im assuming they did a same element where LeBron James played basketball game with people wearing their green screen gears. (Well, correct me if im wrong in the comments.)

As for the effects, it was done by Lucasfilm's effect studio called Industrial Light & Magic, its the same company who already did the first Space Jam and even Disney's Who framed Roger Rabbit. With the welcoming return of Light and Magic, it surprised to say that their effects are impressive with the combination of 2D and 3D effects, even if that some of the use of neon and others could be all over the place.

As for the animation, they're also pretty good, in fact, the animation was done by a veteran animator who's been on Walt Disney Animation Studio named Tony Bancroft, witht he styles to feel like in the good'ol days with our familiar cast of Looney Tunes, but sometimes it could be exaggerating at the times with some not-so good joke. But i will give a credit that when they put LeBron James in 2D animation, he looks not bad, even if its something what would've been if Michael Jordan turned into cartoon in 2D Looney Tunes style, im just saying. But when our Looney Tunes characters jumped into 3D, they look ok for say the least, even if some design could be a bit loose.

However, while the presentation looks good, but the biggest criticism of this movie, they went into a whole new level to having a crossover film, its not just an NBA star and Looney Tunes, but the ENTIRE properties from Warner Bros like DC comics, Harry Potter, The Mask, King Kong (since its a public domain, unlike Godzilla from Toho), The Flintstones, Casablanca, Game of Thrones, The Matrix and so much more. Not to mention, they added a controversial film in cameo, mainly The Clockward Orange with Alex The Large that causes a lot of snowflakes that WB just got away with.

(Scenario starts)

WB's executive: *on the phone call* Look im sorry, sir, we know we tried our best to appeal the movie for general audience that we're ok with like brutal gun fights and fist fights in The Matrix, a toilet humor, a violence joke, a rap jokes and dystopia crime with sexual misconduct cameos, but we're not allowed to including Pepe le pew for being a French creepy stalker to a cute cat girl! Think of the children!!

(Scenario ends)

While the effects and the animations are well done, but why they think it will be a good idea of having a crossover with WB's IPs, like what am i watching, a sequel of Space Jam or a sequel of Ready Player One?

The Characters

Aside from the writing problem, you think the characters will be fun as before, along with live actors? Well, it feels like a double-edged blades.

Lets starts with LeBron James himself. Though im not a huge fan of NBA, but im familiar with his name, even though i've never watch any NBA matches with him in either Cleveland, Miami or even his current LA Lakers. Anyway, i find him to be not bad. Sure he may not as perfect actor as a basketball star, but hey, at least he tried to not only understand how to stay relevant as a basketball player, but also trying to save his son. Though not the first time to be in movies, most of them that he's playing in cameos (like any special celebs, athletes or others), but he did took a shot as a main role.

Then there his "son" Dominic "Dom" James (played by a young actor Cedric Joe), though what i heard its LeBron's real son, but more of fictional version of his son Bryce James, which i guess LeBron doesn't to adding his real life family to be exploited, but i digress. He;s a kid who likes to making video games like adapting a basketball game, but even though we like to see him change his heart for playing basketball, but he just come off as brat who wants to be in digital footsteps than a sports. I know he's a fictional son, but i find him to be forgettable.

Of course, Dom isn't the only fictional family member of LeBron James, again, they don't want to be exploited in real life. There's Kamiyah James (played by Sonequa Martin-Green), who's meant to be Savannah, Darius James (played by Ceyair J. Wright) who's a fictional version of Bronny James and Xosha James (played by young Harper Leigh Alexander), who's a fictional daughter version of Zhuri)

Aside from fictional James family, there's Malik (played by Khris Davis) who's LeBron's childhood best pal and a couple of actors in the movie as themselves like Ernie Johnson Jr. and Lil Rel Howery.

And we have the main antagonist in the movie, Al-G Rhythm (played by Don Cheadle), an evil A.I. who wants bring LeBron James to secretly becoming a star at WB not before got rejected that he takes Dom to manipulating him to beat LeBron for his will of digital power. I find him to be an ok villain, he's just an ordinary man being an A.I. in the digital world, sometimes he acts like a nice person, but other times he could be sinister with his distorted voice. Even though Don did a not bad role, but i find him to be... Eh.

As for his team that he build called "Goon Squad" (*sigh* subtle...), they have a cool designs, unlike the MonStars, they're pretty much there to challenging Toon Squad.

There's The Brow (voiced by LA Lakers power player Anthony Davis), who's the male harpy with AD's nickname that was based on, Chronos (voiced by Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard) a powerful golden robot who has time manipulation with his nickname "Dame Time" (also based on Damian's nickname), Wet-Fire (voiced by Golden State Warriors shooter Klay Thompson), an elemental with a combination between... Well, fire and water (though loosely based on "Splash Brothers" for the nickname, because of... You know, fire.), Arachnneka (voiced by WNBA LA Sparks power forward player Nneka Ogwumike), a humanoid half-spider with powerful web that its based on Nneka's nickname, and there's White Mamba (voiced by WNBA Phoenix Mercury Pointer/Shooter Diana Taurasi), who's a Naga (aka half-human/half-snake) that once again, nicknamed based on Diana herself.

So what about our Looney Tunes pals? Well, its a welcome return, though with the exception of Bugs and Lola, they're pretty much the same as we know, il give them little note later.

Lets starts with the star in the movie, Bugs Bunny himself (voiced by Jeff Bergman), as we know, he's a wise, loving carrot trickster rabbit who always like to messing anyone on his way as we all know in Looney Tunes/Merry Melodies toons. In this movie, Bugs was kinda depressed when his best pals are gone in his Tune World, but when he heard about Al-G Rythm, it will be a wake-up call to not only facing against Al-G, but also bring his buds back. Though its nice to see Bugs again from my childhood, but when it comes to Bergman's voice of wabbit, his voice is so-and-so, it seems his voice has gotten aged that maybe they could've give it to Joe Alaskey or maybe Eric Bauza. Just saying.

And we have a welcoming return from the first one, Lola Bunny (voiced by Zendaya, sadly), who's Bugs's love interest as we all know, even if her personality could've grown more unlike "The Loony Tunes show". In this movie, her personality is surprisingly improved, its not just change from a typical beauty player to a tomboy player (which is something what they wanted in the original concept from the first film), but also gave more appearance to show her set of skills and helpful, which im very appreciated for her upgrade. However, the positivity just ended right away with yet another complaint that i have. The first problem is the her design. Gone from a sexy design of curvy appearance that we all know from the first film, instead they made her nearly slim and flat, making her looks almost like a female clone version of Bugs, which it really hurts the charm, but i will give a credit on her "new" look, at least its better than her appearance of "The Looney Tunes Show". The second and last problem of her is her voice, from before, she was voiced by Kath Soucie, she was the most recognizable voice actress from the 90's to millennium, especially Lola isn't the only role in Looney Tunes series, she also did the voice of Fifi le Fume in "Tiny Tunes Adventure". But when the sequel was planned, Kath was opened to reprising Lola that we're hoping for, but her role was taken away to focus more on modern actress Zendaya. Don't give me wrong, Zendaya did a good work of her role, but its just that it would've been a red flag alert to bring back Kath Soucie what she should've been, not the other way around. But then again, at least Zendaya's voice is better than "The Looney Tunes show". Sorry if im going to be an angry fanboy, but im sure some of you will agree with me in the comment section, but again, i digress.

As for our Looney buddies, they're not much else to say, they're the same as we all know. (Here's a long list if you're not being familiar with)

Daffy Duck (voiced by Eric Bauza), who's ego looney duck and Bugs's rival, Porky Pig (also voiced by Eric Bauza) who's awkward stuttering pig who doesn't for trouble, Sylvester the pussy cat (also voiced by Jeff Bergman), who's a hungry cat who always fail for his action, Tweety bird (voiced by Bob Bergen) who's a cute trickster little bird who constantly noticing a pussy cat, Elmer Fudd (also voiced by Eric Bauza), who's a hunter for hunting wabbit and other times being clueless, Yosemite Sam (also voiced by Jeff Berman) who's a hotheaded gunslinger aginst Bugs, Marvin the Martian (also voiced by Jeff Berman), an alien from Mars for not just targetting Bugs, but also going after various planets to claiming his in the name of Mars or even destroying planets, Tasmanian Devil (voiced by Fred Tatasciore and Jim Cummings from sound archives) who's a hungry wrecking beast in pure chaos, Foghorn Leghorn (also voiced by Eric Bauza) a politician rooster who easily gets very salty if something didn't going on his way, Granny or Emma Webster (voiced by Candi Milo), who's sweet and protective old lady for Tweety, with other times gets energized, despite her old age, Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, they're famous for the constant silly situation with RR always avoiding from his speedo, while Coyote kept failing over and over, Speedy Gonzales (surprisingly voiced by Gabriel Iglesias), a Mexican mouse with super speed of "Andele Andele!", Gossamer, who's a big red hairy monster who's going after Bugs from master's order and Penelope Pussycat, a cute black cat who's sadly on her own to get away from Pepe le Pew who's unfortunately being cut in the movie for "Think of the children" excuse (And yes, my scenario i came up isn't a joke, its sadly true).

Not to mention, they even brought back the Nerdlucks, but thankfully they cannot turning into MonStars without the magical skills. Aw well.

The characters are quite fun see our Looney friends back, but most of them (including new ones) could be either not bad or just plain weak.

And now for my final opinion of this film.

Overall, Space Jam: A New Legacy is a welcome return to Jam, but it just comes off as disappointment with recycled plot from the first one with adding two plot clichés, some characters are average from good to lame and the presentation are quite good, but other times could be either "ok..?" or video game-like quality (more like an Xbox One or PS4 quality).

Its pretty hard to recommend for anybody around. If you're a huge fan of Looney Tunes, NBA or maybe both, this one is for you. If you're a long time fans like me with a not a good result, i don't think its for you, either that or maybe we could look back whether we changed our mind or not. Otherwise, we can easily stick to the original Space Jam with Michael Jordan (Sure, he may not as a professional actor, but at least he tried unlike Shaq for appearing a lot of crappy movies).

For my rating, im probably gonna give this one a 5/10. *sigh* i really wish if Space Jam could make something new for the plot than being a copycat, im just either sad or disappointed, despite i was kind cheered and chuckled. Aw well, its best for giving it a 5.

So this ends of my movie review after my long hiatus, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on https://ko-fi.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.