Space Jam: A New Legacy
Released in theaters on July 16, 2021
Released on Max on July 16, 2021
Runtime: 1 Hour 55 Minutes
Rated PG
I grew up watching the old Looney Tunes cartoons. I recall being stoked (good use of a 90s word right?) during fall of 1996 when Space Jam released in theaters. Over Thanksgiving break I went to see it with my cousins. I LOVED IT! I’ve since watched it with my children. While I still have a nostalgic love for the movie, I acknowledge its shortcomings. Micheal Jordan’s acting makes me laugh at times and cringe at times. I think 2003’s Looney Tunes Back in Action with Brenden Fraser feels more like ‘traditional’ Looney Tunes….and I like it a little better.
Anyway, enough of that. Space Jam: A New Legacy updates the core story for a more modern computer savvy generation. The story gets flipped from the original. Instead of the Looney Tunes being in trouble and possibly enslaved, this time the basketball star is seeking their help. LaBron James and his son are in trouble of possibly being forever stuck inside the Warner Brothers’ Server-verse. Eventually, LaBron’s family and other real world humans get put on the line and the Tune Squad must defeat the Good Squad at a video game style basketball tournament in which players can use power ups and score extra points for style, rapping, creativity, and other crazy shenanigans.
Themes:
Themes in the movie include success, parenting vs coaching, parent/children relationships, pushing someone too hard, pursing your goals, cheating, raising children, technology, and family. The moral that the story seems to emphasize is two fold: parents don’t try to force your child to love the things you do and whatever you purse in life work hard and give it your all.
Language:
Sadly, the phrase, “what the h—-“ is in the movie several times. I am not sure why this statement needs to be a children/family movie. Foghorn Leghorn says, “this sucks.” There is a scene in which Don Cheadle (the villain) yells at his team and the movie bleeps out his words with one, very long beep. As is a custom with Looney Tunes there is name calling - stupid, rejects, nimrod, goons, weird, etc. I caught “Oh my God!” once and Daffy makes the joke, “son of a glitch.”
Stuff to be aware of:
Bugs acts drunk briefly in a western bar scene. Granny has a martini, which should have been left out. Gossamer gets his fur ripped off and his boxers show. There are some dragons, zombies, scary looking Batman villains, and monsters from Game of Thrones (They look like ice zombies) in the background.
Overall:
I had a fun time prescreening this movie. There are several references to the old movie and lots of jokes. The visuals are really nice looking. I didn’t care for the Looney Tunes being CGI during the big game at the end much, but some may like that. Story wise, I don’t think I would say this one if better than the original or worse than the original. It’s exactly what you would expect from a movie about Looney Tunes playing basketball with LaBron James. I enjoyed it. If you love the Looney Tunes your inner child will come out. And….no offense to Micheal, but LaBron is a better actor.
I do have a few complaints. There are so many cameos by HBO Max, Hanna-Barbera, and Warner Brothers characters that is slightly takes away from the Looney Tunes themselves. I will admit I had fun looking for characters from other movies and shows. I’m glad the Gremlins made an appearance. However, I do not like that they added adult oriented shows, like Games of Thrones and Rick and Morty, cameos in a children’s movie. There may have been some other references to adult oriented shows that I missed. Some of the cameos from movies/shows watching the game made me laugh because they look like they are cosplayers and not the actual characters. Last complaint, only a handful of the main Looney Tunes are in the movie. What I loved about the original Space Jam was all the secondary and minor characters they used in the audience and as guest appearances. My favorite Looney Tune - Marvin the Martin shows up for a few minutes, but then only gets used as a side gag a couple of times after that. Marvin, deserves more love.