THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Space Jam is one of the many cult classics of the 1990s due to being downright fun. Because of its box office success, it was inevitable for a sequel to come around. By the time it came around in 2021, I ask if it was worth waiting for? I guess so.
PLOT
The stand alone sequel dubbed A New Legacy follows basketball star LeBron James who wishes his sons Darius (Ceyir J Wright) and Dominic to follow in his footsteps. While Darius is on board, Dom is more interested in computer software. His wife Kamiyah (Sonequa Martin Green) insists that he should respect his wish. He does try by playing his newly developed game which ends up suffering from a glitch. The next day, he invites him to a meeting at Warner Bros. Studios. The deal is for the star to be digitally exploited the ‘Warner 3000 Server-verse’, a digital shared universe within the server of WB. He turns it down when not being impressed of the presentation by the artificial intelligence Al G Rhythm. This upsets Al because he wants to have recognition for his work and desires to come to the real world. The only one who shows interest is Dom, due to his work with computer software. He than shares to how he wants to go to an E3 camp for game designing, but this leads to an argument with his dad of wanting to play basketball. When they board an elevator, the boy claims that his dad never tried to show interest of what he wants to do. Little did they know that they get lured by Al and trapped into virtual reality. He separates LeBron from his son and takes him prisoner. He then makes a deal with him that he will get his son back after a game of basketball. He sends him to Tune World, home of the Looney Tunes, and is given only 24 hours to assemble his team. Dom is unaware that he is a prisoner and is tricked by Al to create a team that is overpowered for his dad. He than convinces him to become as strong as his teammates to overpower his father. At Tune World, the only character LeBron finds is Bugs Bunny. He has been left alone for some time because Al convinced the other Tunes to explore the Server-verse. Once he explains his situation to him, they steal a ship from Marvin the Martian and explore the digital multiverse to assemble the team. While LeBron wants to recruit stronger characters and those who know how to basketball, Bugs chooses to reunite his friends to form The Tune Squad: Lola Bunny (the only one who knows how to play), Daffy Duck (who only acts as a coach), Porky Pig, Sylvester, Tweety Bird, Granny, Speedy Gonzales, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Tasmanian Devil, Road Runner, Wile E Coyote and Gossamer. Once the time is up, the game is about to start. Al live streams the game but abducts viewers that include the rest of LeBron's family and summons the characters of Warner Bros. to attend the game. Dom leads his team known as the 'Goon Squad', characters comprised of upgraded avatars of other known basketball players. The characters include: The Brow, one with eagle wings in place of arms that is the avatar of Anthony Davis. Wet Fire, an elemental avatar of Klay Thompson. Arachnneka, a spider like avatar of Nneka Ogwumike. White Mamba, a Naga like avatar of Diana Taurasi and Chronos, a golden robotic member that is the avatar of Damian Lillard. Al raises the stakes that if the Tune Squad loses, all the humans will remain enslaved in the Server-verse and the Tunes will be deleted from existence. When the game starts, the protagonists get dominated by their opponents in the first half due to how they earn style points as they use their powers to score style points like Dom's game would. During halftime, LeBron realizes that they got to get creative to win and not treat this like a normal game. During the third quarter, they rely on cartoon physics to catch up. Once they do, LeBron apologizes to Dom for standing in the way of his dream. Forgiving him and accepting his trust, Dom decides to abandon his team. This infuriates Al and decides to assume control of the Goon Squad, using his abilities to become almost unbeatable. Since this is Dom's game, he realizes that the only way to beat him is if they do the 'step back' move that'll cause a glitch, but whoever does it will be deleted. Bugs volunteers to do it so that LeBron can lead the team to victory. After Bugs does the move, Dom assists his father by throwing an extra jumper that results their final score to victory. As Al gets literally posterized, all the humans return home and LeBron reunites with his family. A week after the game, he surprises his son by taking him to E3 Game Design Camp and is surprised to see Bugs alive and well due to the fact that cartoons cannot die. The film ends with a photo montage of Bugs and the Tunes exploring Earth.
THOUGHTS
Now I can admit that it was the nostalgic hype got to me to check this out. So when it came to doing so on (HBO)Max, I had somewhat of a good time. But the problem is that this one was overhyped and doesn't outperform the iconic predecessor. Director Malcolm D Lee and producer Ryan Coogler gave us something that kids in this generation will positively remember, but older fans will not be as impressed because we're self aware that it was trying too hard to satisfy everyone else. Some of the run on jokes work, but then they go on for too long. It is cool seeing the array of WB characters throughout the movie that weren't the Tunes, seeing the likes of Rick and Morty or the Iron Giant etc., but the easter egg hunt ends up becoming a distraction. It may have worked out for Ready Player One, but it doesn't work here. Like why were the Droogs from A Clockwork Orange in this movie? The studio made a big deal on editing out Pepe LePew and you kept characters that were way more inappropriate than the goddamn skunk. And my main issues go to what plays out during the story. First off, I feel like Coach C (Wood Harris) was in the wrong by encouraging LeBron to throw away just to make him focused in the game. I know every coach wants to bring the best out of their players, but LeBron was a kid and didn't need to do that. Not every kid has it good, yet they do deserve some slack as they learn. He even messes up a little more by solely giving instructions to the young LeBron. Of course you want to rely on your top player in the game, but that does not always work, which is why I think that is also the reason his team lost that day. There are two things I have to question when it comes to LeBron. The first would be why he would doubt an acting career after a positive reception he got for Trainwreck? I know every star takes a different path but I don't think he appeared open minded after Al's presentation. Maybe the Warner 3000 sounded excessive, but he should've asked if there was any scripts he'd get to read, incase he'd be willing to produce/star in. My second question related to him is why couldn't he stretch out his arm for the final score? I know you don't want to copy what Michael Jordan did, but it would've been cool if he was able to rely on cartoon physics in a similar capacity. It did get creative to see where the Tunes were during the Server-verse, yet we didn't see where Gossamer was. I don't know or imagine where he would be, which is why it'd be easier for the movie to decide that answer. It was funny how LeBron's friend Malik (Khris Davis) miss out on the game, but why didn't he use his phone to get invited? Had he at least checked, he'd support him as Kamiyah did. I felt so confused seeing the Nerdlucks cheer for the Goon Squad because last time that I checked, they were on good terms with the Tunes. So I don't understand where the hate is coming from. It could've been a better callback if they were cheering for them instead. Granny being a badass felt like a blessing in disguise because that got me to laugh, but how did she know how to stop Chronos? It didn't look like anyone told her so seeing her outsmarting him is sadly unbelievable to me. And am I the only one who thought it was weird of how the audience cheered for the Goon Squad after Al announced that the humans will stay in the Server-verse if his team wins? The fate of their lives is at stake and they should not be cheering for the villains, unless you were Al or a WB villain character. I even find it odd of how Al considers the Looney Tunes as rejects. They are one of the best things to happen in animation history, on par with Mickey Mouse from Walt Disney, so I don't get where the hate on them is coming from. It's even weird of how he was able to spy on Dom, someone outside of WB business, when he could've looked for other celebrity candidates that would support his pitch. It's always weird of this algorithm to spy on a kid without explicit consent and if this thing is capable of doing this with one house out WB headquarters, I'm surprised that he stretched himself outside even further. And it was smart for him to takeaway points, but why didn't he do that before the Tune Squad gained momentum? If he was able to control the Server-verse which includes Dom's game, he should've been doing that the whole time to toy with his foe. And lastly, how did Dom not recognize during the car trip that his dad was taking him to E3 Game Design Camp? I know he was clueless on where basketball camp because of minimal interest at first, but I assumed he'd remember this place's address due to his passion for computer software. I don't want to pick on this kid, but there should've been a sign for him to notice before arrival. The reason that I am able to ignore these flaws for a re watch is because it still has a heart. We know LeBron James is not an ideal actor and we know there's gonna be a big argument on whether or not he's the new face of basketball. What matters here is that he does give a solid performance portraying himself as a determined athlete who learns the hard way as a loving father that being great doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself. Based on the opening, he chose to lessen the fun to be the best we know him to be. With that mindset, he chose to pass that to his kids. Through Dom and the experience they have, he understands that being yourself is more important than greatness. This is a lesson that is commonly used in films, yet remains effective here. Since he was able to save his family and everyone at the game, that lesson will never disappear. Going into the rest of the cast, I honestly enjoyed the breakout performance by Cedric Joe as LeBron's middle child Dom. We quickly understand how he is a youthful boy who is all about wanting to do what he is passion about. His dad does first get in the way because he never thought twice of what he wanted until the story goes into motion. However, he learns that he was just looking out for him and never intended to stop him from being happy. Since amends were made between the two, I do hope that they continue to live their lives to the fullest. When it comes to casting an artificial intelligence, it has to be based on far they go down the rabbit hole. For the role of Al G Rhythm, I believe Don Cheadle was a good choice to portray the character who comes off charming, but expresses nothing except anger when things don't go his way. While you should hate him for manipulating Dom to create the Goon Squad,he surprisingly taught him another lesson that is just as important as what LeBron learns: Never hold back at your full potential. The difference here is that it implies for necessary situations that create a positive impact. The funniest performances from the live action cast have to be the dynamic duo of Ernie Johnson and Lil Rel Howery. They played each other off so well that I wish Howery did permanent sports commentary with Johnson himself. As for the animated characters, the Goon Squad probably won't be as iconic as the Nerdlucks/Monstars, yet they succeed in being intimidated forces to be reckoned with. Knowing that they're video game avatars of basketball players is the most interesting thing about them. I honestly wonder how Kobe Bryant would look if he was a Goon. The one thing this movie did better than the first film is giving a stronger presence for the Looney Tunes. Yes their lives were at stake in both films, but the difference is that we don't exactly relate to them. We root for them because they're funny. This time, we root for them because we relate to Bugs Bunny. Between his one liners, the rabbit was definitely depressed that his friends were tricked to leave their home. When LeBron came, this was his chance to reunite with the people he considered his family. It's obvious that no family is perfect and Bugs is telling the viewers to always appreciate everyone you consider part of your own is awesome. Knowing that he got what he wanted and was willing to put himself at risk to do it, you gotta admire his will and be happy for him. Knowing that the Tunes are casually exploring the planet, there's no telling what adventure/shenanigans they'll do next. I think the biggest laugh I got from the Tunes was when Sylvester mistakes actor Michael B Jordan for basketball legend Michael Jordan. I fell for that so bad and I laughed harder than I should have, which will be the most timeless moment for me. To wrap up, Space Jam: A New Legacy is a sequel that may not be entirely better, but doesn't really have to be. If you still got mad love for the Looney Tunes, check out this one when you can.
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