The sequel no-one really expected is here to unleash on a new generation of fans as cartoons and basketball collide in Space Jam A New Legacy.
When LeBron and his young son Dom are trapped in a digital space by a rogue A.I., LeBron must get them home safe by leading Bugs, Lola Bunny and the whole gang of notoriously undisciplined Looney Tunes to victory over the A.I.’s digitized champions on the court. It’s Tunes versus Goons in the highest-stakes challenge of his life.
Space Jam A New Legacy is basically a rehash of the first movie retooled for a streaming ‘verse’ generation. Lebron James who is clearly a very charismatic replacement for Michael Jordan, doesn’t carry the ultra star power that Jordan did, and one of the films best moments is a Michael Jordan gag. That aside though the film is enjoyable for the most part, especially if you join in the spot the Warner Bros. product/TV show/film characters all the way through (Which some adults in the audience who might not be enjoying the film might find runs down the run time clock somewhat) in a Ready Player One feel.
Bugs and co make a welcome return to the big screen, however MJ aside the film does really miss Bill Murray in ‘The Worlds Greatest Cameo’ TM from proceedings.
Don Cheadle does his best as the films villain Al G. Rhythm and looks like he’s having bags of fun, but his character quickly becomes somewhat tiresome especially when you know exactly where the plot between Lebron and his son is going. Sonequa Martin-Green is entirely wasted as Lebron’s wife Kamiyah, who basically stands on the sidelines shouting a lot, pouting or giving Lebron the ‘really’ side stare.
The younger audience will probably enjoy this more than the adults, who will probably look back on the original as the better movie and yearn for the mid 90’s blockbuster (Less said about R Kelly’s I Believe I Can Fly these days the better though), even though on reflection it probably isn’t as good as you remember. Make sure you watch out though for Monstars who make a cameo return too.
Space Jam A New Legacy won’t end up making the impact the first Jam did, it’s not a slam dunk, but it does make it into overtime just on the buzzer.
Space Jam A New Legacy is at cinemas Nationwide now
