IR Film Review: SPACE JAM - A NEW LEGACY [Warner Brothers]
The aspect of IP integration is the hallmark of many studios, with Disney obviously going for broke currently with Star Wars and Marvel. With Warner Brothers, "Space Jam" is always interesting because it melds a real life person with an utter fantastical world. Here Lebron James is the new Michael Jordan and he holds up pretty well. No one expects him to do Shakespeare but he delivers as he needs to, maintains his focus of play but also seems to have a little fun. It is a PR home run for him for sure. The set up is a basic redemption and family connection story which makes sense. Bron wants one of his sons to do basketball but the kid loves designing video games. The tech angle through the Warnerverse makes sense and Don Cheadle hams it up as Al G Rhythm but it never feels quite more than a farce as as the personality (perhaps on purpose).
Granted, the film appeals to a younger generation with pratfalls but the Looney Tunes themselves are still played with a tad of adult tongue-in-cheek humor. One of the most interesting aspects at the final game is to see all the non-descript or least actor-descript characters from the Warner live action and animation universe. The game is of course the thing. The only thing is that some of the other players who play the baddies are not really established as personalities so they never seem quite formidable (whereas we know the strengths and weaknesses of the toones). But this is Bron's game.
The best part of the movie is Bugs & Bron on their recruiting montage because it has the best balance of homage and tongue in cheek. While there are two cameos at Warner, you would almost think they would have overloaded it with "Last Action Hero" type style but the money structure isn't really there anymore perhaps. Sonequa Martin Green gets a thankless role as Bron's wife though she does anchors him but the visibility might have been the thing. Add that it is a flip of course of sorts from her "Star Trek: Discovery" role. The resolution obviously interplays with a lesson and another cameo of sorts in the locker room does play to the expectation. But "Space Jam - A New Legacy" knows what it is. Animation supervisor Spike Brandt knows what he is doing and that audience with Malcolm Lee conducting the ship. B-
By Tim Wassberg
