Space Jam: A New Legacy, Slam Dunk or Major Flop?
Since its release, Space Jam: A New Legacy has done amazing box office numbers, but has also seriously divided movie fans, especially older generations. After watching it the other day on HBO Max, my feelings towards it are not particularly positive or negative, however, I did find the film entertaining. While some aspects were a bit underwhelming, such as the plot, acting, and writing (at times), there were also really enjoyable comedic moments, impressive special effects, and creative cultural references. Even though it's definitely not a perfect movie, I did appreciate elements of it. Some have categorized the film as a “children's movie,” but I would argue that the film is geared towards millennials and older generations just as much as it is for younger audiences. It is precisely during these moments that I feel the film is at its best and most interesting, operating inside the cultural hype and nostalgia of other Warner Brothers films and television.
As both an NBA fan and a fan of the original film, I think that the filmmakers made the right choice in letting fans know early on that the reboot was not a sequel to the original Space Jam (1996). The new release was definitely designed to stand on its own, but there are of course occasional references to the original film, such as Lola Bunny saying “been there, done that” when Bugs Bunny asks her to help them win a basketball game with an NBA superstar. Much of this film centers around a totally new plot involving Los Angeles Lakers superstar Lebron James and his son, Dom. Unlike the original, which takes place on Earth and in outer space, Space Jam: A New Legacy follows Lebron and Dom as they are sucked into the “Warner Bros. ServerVerse,” controlled by the sentient algorithm Al-G Rhythm (Don Cheadle).
Another key difference is that instead of a “regular” basketball game, Lebron and the Toon Squad are facing off against the Goon Squad in “Dom Ball,” a basketball-inspired video game created by LeBron’s son. This allows for things like style points, power-ups, and all kinds of other non-traditional basketball factors to come into play. While I did not have a problem with the premise, the execution did leave a bit to be desired. My biggest issue was the fact that the game's scoring system made it almost impossible to feel any kind legitimacy or pressure during the game itself. Because you do not know how much a basket was worth, you have no idea how far behind the Toon Squad really were until the very end. This takes the suspense away from what should be a focal point of the film. These kinds of faults in the plot are far too frequent; with multiple points in the film where the writers are reaching, and as a result, my enjoyment of the film overall did suffer.
I have seen some fans come to the film's defense, but I don’t really understand the “It’s a children’s movie” argument as to why the film shouldn’t be criticized the way it has been. While I understand the logic: that we should not hold certain films to the standard of “adult” films when they were created for younger audiences, therefore we shouldn't expect intricate plots, characters, or cinematography. However, I would argue that not only is this way of thinking simplistic and a bit dated (especially with “kids movies” like 2020’s Soul showing they can hold their own against any film in terms of overall quality), but also that this argument doesn’t even really apply to Space Jam: A New Legacy. While younger movie-goers were certainly a priority for the filmmakers, many of the cameos, dialogue, and references were specifically created to relate to millennials and even older generations. One of the biggest examples is the numerous references to other franchises owned by Warner Brothers. Young children will obviously not feel the nostalgia or even recognize many of the references to characters/franchises like the Iron Giant, Jim Carrey’s The Mask, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Batman Returns, The Wizard of Oz, Game of Thrones, Rick and Morty, etc. This proves that the film was designed to appeal to audiences of a much wider age range. That being said, this is one of the elements of the film that I enjoyed the most. As a millennial, it was really cool to see so many of the characters that I grew up watching/watch currently from different franchises all come together in an Avengers Endgame kind of way.
Although Space Jam: A New Legacy and its predecessor differ in many ways, its core family themes, playful nature, and looney appeal are still the same. Our basketball superstar is still trapped in unexpected circumstances, working together with our favorite Looney Toons to defeat his opponents, and learning something along the way. Much like how Michael Jordan’s “Secret Stuff” taught the Toon Squad that they were special all along, Lebron’s epic showdown against his son teaches him that fatherhood is about letting your kids be themselves and having fun. Bugs Bunny emphasizes this idea (Spoiler Warning) by sacrificing himself to win the game and showing that family is all that matters in the end. Space Jam: A New Legacy may not be the most sophisticated, critically-acclaimed film, but I don’t think it’s trying to be. While some of the criticism it's received is certainly justified, a majority of it seems a bit unfair. Not because it’s a “kids movie,” but because it has multiple redeeming qualities to it. And even though I definitely still prefer Jordan’s original Space Jam, I did have a good time watching this movie, which as far as I’m concerned, is all I could really ask for. So until we see another basketball prodigy hit the big screen alongside our favorite Looney cartoon Bunny and co, that’s all folks!
Written by: Bryan Herrera | Instagram
Art by: Cassidy Elibol
