May 23, 20213 min read

Space Jam: A Weak but Memorable Game

Updated: Feb 1, 2023

Reviews by:

@the_owlseyes

RATE THIS MOVIE

When you're a simple kid from Wilmington, North Carolina, your aspirations are sky high. You want fame and you want to be more than a suburbs guy with a simple and boring job. Michael Jordan was like thar and he always knew how to achieve what he wanted. He worked harder than anyone on and off the pitch, pushing himself and everybody else to the limit. He won a lot and became an NBA superstar. Till he decided to get some time to himself and dedicate himself to being a baseball player, like his father, with disappointing results. It was during this period that he, his agent and Warner Bros. came up with an idea, something on the notes of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Mary Poppins. Something so bonkers and charming that cemented him as an all rounded legend.

PLOT

"In a desperate attempt to win a basketball match and earn their freedom, the Looney Tunes seek the aid of retired basketball champion, Michael Jordan" or "Michael Jordan's ego trip".

SCRIPT

It's pretty simple and only Michael Jordan has some kind of believable arch. Yes, the villains have one but it's too rushed and also his agent we could say that has it. The villain motivation are a bit weak and seems more like a jibe toward corporations and corporate ethic. They chose something easy to understand, especially in a world entrenched in corporationism. That's a witty move from a movie with such plot. I could say also that Michael Jordan used this movie to represent his catharsis, which let him go back to what was good at. The movie do a little social commentary but do also some crazy stuff. There's a concept that I didn't like about the movie: if you don't have talent you can't be good at something. A concept which reverberates in the last act with the same notion. I think that it's a bad lesson and could be harmful. Jordan has become who he's through hard work, not only by being talented. Overall it isn't an atrocious script and it's likeable enough to say that isn't that bad.

Script: 6/10

ACTING

This movie has solved the problem of a lot of movies showcasing basketball players, like Kazaam, Steel and such. Fortunately Jordan has to play himself and it's harmless. Well, sometimes it doesn't work as intended because in fact he's acting with no one in front of him and most of the time is in front of a green screen. The movie is improved by the charming presence of Bill Murray, the goofy performance of Wayne Knight and the usual Looney Toons voice acting. It loses a bit of quality when other basketball players get to play their roles.

Acting: 5/10

PHOTOGRAPHY

Usual 90's bright and flashy colours. I hoped that a difference will be remarked by them between the real and the Toons World but no effort was put in it. Light isn't used in a meaningful manner and sometimes I think that some scenes are too bright and flat.

Photography: 5/10

EDITING

Nothing interesting to say about it. Slow motion is used one time and is effective. The other stuff is pretty basic. There's a sequence in the climax where it's a bit off and that hurts who's watching just a little bit.

Editing: 5/10

SPECIAL EFFECTS

These are mediocre most of the time and sometimes are downright awful. I won't say more because I think that the scene I've shared here talk for themselves.

Special Effects: 5/10

SOUNDTRACK

This is why the movie isn't aging well: it's a mashup of 90's movies. It's boring, redundant and loud and I've hoped that the producers would've gone for something more instrumental. This is the weakest section of the movie by far.

Soundtrack: 4/10

COSTUMES

There're a lot of hints to the 90's style, which is bad for the movie, because people who're born after the 2000's won't be able to understand them. The basketball kits are cute but don't stand up as something interesting and original. The movie does the essential without trying something riskier, without going all in.

Costumes: 6/10

CONCLUSION

Script: 6/10

Acting: 5/10

Photography: 5/10

Editing: 5/10

Special Effects: 5/10

Soundtrack: 4/10

Costumes: 6/10

AVERAGE: 5,14

It's an enjoyable movie with a lot of flaws and charm. It didn't age well but it's a good nostalgia flick. Is one of the few movies with basketball players which isn't considered a flop. I advise to see it to every person who likes basketball and wants something silly and bonkers to remember the great star of Michael Jordan and turn off the brain for one and a half hour.

By @the_owlseyes

RATE THIS REVIEW