Space Jam (1996) is a '90s cult classic, and that definition goes both ways in terms of this movie's quality. What originated as a series of commercials for Michael Jordan's Air Jordan sneakers featuring Bugs Bunny culminated in a feature-length animation/live-action hybrid that works in certain areas (the sequences combining the live-action actors with the animated characters, the humor, and the soundtrack), but falters in others (the concept, the often-wooden acting, and the story's overall lack of emotional investment).
The story follows the Looney Tunes gang (including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, etc.) as they seek help from NBA superstar Michael Jordan when aliens threaten to abduct them for use as attractions on their outer space amusement park dubbed Moron Mountain (a timely play on Magic Mountain, which had a contract with Warner Bros. to use the Looney Tunes characters at the time).
The animation and voice acting are solid, for they maintain the spirit of the original cartoons while upgrading it for a 1990s audience, who had already been captivated by the groundbreaking effects of those featured in Disney's Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988). The jokes in this movie are cleverly self-referential and continue to bring a smile to my face years after I first saw the film as a child on Netflix. The film's soundtrack, which includes songs like Quad City DJ's' "Space Jam" and Seal's "Fly Like an Eagle", is energetic and does more than enough to bring the heart-pumping adrenaline of basketball to the big screen. James Newton Howard's lively score also has enough whimsy to elevate a rather average movie into a passable yet enjoyable watch.
The concept itself is an odd one, for it boils down to taking two popular brands that have little to do with each other meshed together to serve as a commercial. It's a corporate decision, but the way this movie approaches that concept is still fun. Also, the range of acting, specifically from Jordan and the NBA superstars (including Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Muggsy Bogues) is pretty limited. Granted, they are playing versions of themselves, so they all do a fair-enough job playing themselves without their basketball-playing talents. Bill Murray appears as himself in this movie and comes out of nowhere to save the day towards the end, probably because Ghostbusters (1984) director Ivan Reitman was a producer on Space Jam. His presence is welcome but feels more like an inside joke than an organic part of the story.
On a side note, original Looney Tunes animator Chuck Jones was also critical of this movie and its characterizations of Bugs Bunny and company. His criticism boiled down to that, unlike the original cartoons where characters like Bugs Bunny would outsmart their enemies using their wits no matter how precarious the situations, the movie's interpretation has him and his friends in desperate need of reinforcements from the real world. With that in mind, I am admittedly a fan of director Joe Dante's Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), which feels like a direct response and counter to Space Jam in terms of respectfully portraying the Looney Tunes' original characterizations and their anarchic energy.
Despite its shortcomings, Space Jam is a thoroughly fun watch. From the soundtrack to the eye-popping animated segments, it will make one forget about the corporate concept and lackluster acting and plot. However, the burning question is: did Space Jam have a sequel made? Yes, but to hear my full thoughts on this sequel, stay tuned.
Final Score: 6 out of 10
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