Review of Space Jam (1996) by Harry W — 26 Aug 2014

As I remember enjoying it as a kid and have become a large fanatic for films which have animated characters in a live-action universe, Space Jam sounded like it was right up my alley as a basketball game for The Looney Toons sounds too good to miss.

Space Jam was really not as good for me as it was when I was a child because I was able to isolate a lot more flaws in it than I could back in the day. What it all boiled down to was precisely how silly the film was because it is a very juvenile film aimed at younger audiences. A lot of the humour in the film is hit and miss, and while it hit enough times to entertain me, there were a lot of times where the humour was clearly recycled gags from previous Looney Toons cartoons that do not have the same impact that they did upon debuting decades ago.

One of the central issues in Space Jam is that the film spends so much time hyping up a basketball game between The Loony Toons and the Monstars, but it actually takes up a fairly low quantity of the total running time in the film. The basketball tournament is very short because the film rushes by it which is a shame because it is really the most important asset in the film's sense of fun. And in actual fact, it is exciting fun because it shows NBA superstar Michael Jordan and a collection of great Looney Toons characters engaged in a silly high-budget sports match full of slapstick humour and sporting fun. It is filmed well and gives the great characters an entertaining platform to transition into the game of basketball, and if there was more of it then the level of success that the ilm maintained would have been a lot better. Unfortunately it does not make as big an impact as it really should, and although it is good enough to help justify the entertainment in Space Jam, it seems as if it took a back seat to most of the other recycled jokes in the film.

The focus of the film is a problem. There is not enough focus on the actual basketball game as well as too much focus on the villains of the film instead of on the Looney Toons characters themselves. For most of the first half of the film, the villains are terrible characters. They are unfunny little weaklings who don't become good characters until they suck the talent out of the NBA players, and that's when they become all serious and aggressive. There is little comic virtue in the antagonists of the story, and considering that the actual premise of this film is about Looney Tunes playinng basketball with aliens, they should be a lot funnier than they actually are. Alas, that is not the case. The only decent antagonist character was Mister Swackhammer, and that was primarily because he was voiced by Danny DeVito who has a naturally villainous demeanour with his toen of voice. Aside from that, some creativity is in need.

But still, Space Jam is a fun romp. It is clearly a very child oriented film and it manages to capture a lot of cheesy humour to entertain the younger crowds. Like I said, the jokes are hit and miss, but overall I found that there were enough laughs for me to find entertainment within the experience. It is clearly a child-oriented film, and in that sense it is a succesful one because thanks to some top notch animation full of colour which is easily integrated into the live-action footage of the movie, it is a strong visual experience. Everything is shot very well thanks to strong cinematography and it is edited at a quick pace which keeps things exciting. And while by today's standards the integration of animation and live action may not be top notch, the general energy of the film overshadows it with ease. Space Jam has elements of a generic sports film, but when combined with the animated elements of the film and the uplifting soundtrack, it easily manages to capture the heart of a sports film. Space Jam has a lot of strong technical prospects to it which makes it a fun venture, and it helps to make up for a lot of the poor storytelling and therefore certifies the film's value as a guilty pleasure.

And not only do the voice cast in Space Jam succeed in nailing the elements of their characters, but the live action actors manage to give it their best as well.

Michael Jordan makes a good effort in Space Jam. As Shaquille O'Neal has proved on countless occasions, it is thoroughly difficult for a basketball player to carry an entire film on their shoulders. In the leading role, Michael Jordan not only leads Space Jam, he makes a compelling effort in the process. Michael Jordan faces the challenge of not only taking on a leading role, but also having to interact with countless animated characters in the process. He does it surprisingly well and makes a compelling effort in the lead role with a lot of determination and sporting spirit, as if he wants to make the game against the Monstars the best he has ever played. Michael Jordan makes an impressive effort in Space Jam thanks to the fact that he really involves himself in the fun of the story, and so it is a surprisingly entertaining performance.

Wayne Knight manages to do a good job as well because he supplies a goofy sense of comic relief to the story as the victim who can never get lucky in any situation. His over the top energetic charisma is a terrific asset and his likable persona instantly separates him from his iconic role as Newman on Seinfeld. He is a genial presence in Space Jam and he portrays his archetype character very well.

Bill Murray is also a nice touch. Any film with Bill Murray in it is good simply for having him as part of the cast, and Space Jam joins the ranks of films like Zombieland of having him portray a fictionalised version of himself. Although it is adults who will more likely appreciate his presence than the kids watching the film, his small role in the film is a hilarious touch and pivotal to how it succeeds.

So despite the gags being heavily inconsistent in quality and the focus of the film being scattered, Space Jam is an entertaining new entry into the Looney Toons universe with strong animation and a dedicated cast lined up.