20 years ago, there was no other figure in sports or entertainment more well known than Michael Jordan. The man not only revolutionized the game of basketball but created a brand that continues to dominate today. As a 10-year-old, there was no one I looked up to more than “His Royal Airness.” From wanting to “Be Like Mike” to wearing and owning any “Air Jordan” released, Michael Jordan was my idol.
The film was originally inspired by Nike’s 1992 Super Bowl Commercial.
When the news of the film was first released, during a Chicago Bulls game on TNT as the internet was in its inception, there was no doubt in my mind, Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny in a film? Count me in. The idea was marketing genius and revived the Looney Tunes franchise and continued to grow the Jordan brand. As the film celebrates its 20-year anniversary, Space Jam, while nostalgic and a staple of our generation and youth, is not a good film.
What exactly is Space Jam about? Michael Jordan announces his retirement from the sport to follow his late father’s career as a baseball player. However, it becomes evident that he is not as dominant or skilled in baseball as he was in basketball. Jordan is assigned a publicist, Stan Podolak, to make his new career less bumpy. Meanwhile, Moron Mountain faces dwindling popularity, so its owner, Mr. Swackhammer (Danny DeVito), sends his diminutive minions, the Nerdlucks, to capture the Looney Tunes as new entertainment. The Looney Tunes are alive in an animated world hidden in the center of the Earth. They pay no mind to the Nerdlucks’ threats and challenge them to a game of basketball. After stealing NBA player’s talents, the Nerdlucks become the Monstars and the only one that can take them down and help the Looney Tunes is the one and only MJ.
What follows is a horrifyingly dated, poorly written, badly paced film that while remaining a central part of my childhood, has become my own personal Grease 2 – an ultimate guilty pleasure. In retrospect, Space Jam feels more like a film to emphasize Michael Jordan’s beliefs and motivations than providing an adult audience with an overall good film. Along with that, Space Jam makes sure all and I mean all of his marketing partners were mentioned. As seen when Stan picks him up from his hotel room early in the film, and goes on to say:
“C’mon Michael! It’s game time! Get your Hanes on, lace up your Nikes, grab your Wheaties and your Gatorade, we’ll pick up a Big Mac on the way to the ballpark!”
Has anyone said this about Space Jam?
Micheal Jordan is a terrible actor. The cringe-worthy back and forth with some of the Monstars and Looney Tunes in the film were at times hard to watch. I, for one, am happy he kept his day job. For any fan of the film, it is safe to say that Bill Murray in his brief cameo is best in show. Murray is witty and just hysterical when he is used. The one performance that does not feel dated in watching the film 20 years later.
Space Jam will always hold a special place in my heart. It is the film that immortalized my childhood hero by putting him on the big screen, a moment I have yet to or will ever forget.
On November 15th, 1996, not much could top Space Jam in my eyes. 20 years later, on November 15th, 2016, Space Jam has become nothing more than a nostalgic guilty pleasure and that’s not always a bad thing.
Reel Talk gives Space Jam 2 Reels
