I have to give credit where credit is due. Space Jam: A New Legacy is a fun, family-friendly adventure.
Superstar LeBron James and his young son, Dom (Cedric Joe), get trapped in digital space by a rogue AI (Don Cheadle). To get home safely, LeBron teams up with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang for a high-stakes basketball game against the AI’s digitized champions of the court — a powered-up roster called the Goon Squad.
I will be the first to admit that I had my doubts about this film. I’m a huge fan of the first one and no one can do better than Michael Jordan, but when I heard LeBron James was gonna star in it I was all in because he is one of my favorite basketball players. This sequel is a huge step-up from its predecessor – from hybrid animation to insane computer graphics, it’s a whole new level for a new generation to enjoy.
Let’s be clear, Space Jam: A New Legacy is not trying to one-up its predecessor but manages to give the story an update. There is a lot of heart in this story, reminding viewers to stay true to themselves, but to keep things fun in the process. The original film placed all the weight on Michael Jordan’s back, but this film is more fleshed out giving LeBron plenty of supporting characters that help even out his more grounded performance. When the script allows LeBron to lean into his more Looney side or playing the compassionate father, he just shines.
Don Cheadle gets a chance to remove his superhero armor and is the perfect unhinged villain. Cheadle’s AI-G’s ease of control of technology outside of the Serververse is highly questionable, but it is also a good reminder of the larger surveillance state we actually do live in presently. The emotional core of this film is hands down Cedric Joe’s Dom, who perfectly showcases defeat and hope on his face as he sorts through his relationship with his father. He avoids being stereotyped as either the jock or a tech fanatic by being both.
No one can deny how visually stunning this film is, and one could compare it to Warner Bros’. similarly flashy Ready Player One. The movie seamlessly moves through different styles from Looney Tunes to classic comic book styles, while also mixing in live-action and Old Hollywood film styles. Although, the most impressive feature of the film is that it now incorporates video game designs as a form of entertainment, and the CGI of the gaming space is quite impressive.
The Looney Tunes characters do feel a bit sidelined during most of the film, especially when you have dragons and the Goon Squad filling in the majority of the Serververse.
Overall, Space Jam: A New Legacy is a modern update filled with nostalgia. LeBron James’ performance is charming and excels when it matters most. And even though the Looney Tunes feel a bit sidelined at times, it’s wonderful to see them back in action on the big screen.
What did you think of the film? Sound off in the comments.
Space Jam: A New Legacy is now playing in theaters and streaming on HBO Max
