Space Jam - 6 stars out of 10

Space Jam - 6 stars out of 10

“Space Jam” is completely straightforward.  Looney Tunes are in trouble, Looney Tunes draft Michael Jordan to help them win a basketball game, Looney Tunes (and Jordan) play basketball game, credits roll to the tunes of R. Kelly and Seal.  There aren’t any big surprises, but that’s what makes “Space Jam” a classic.  For as amazing as this film was when we were all preteens, it has actually held up really well over time.  The cheesy comedy is fun for kids and nostalgic for adults, the characters are timeless no matter how old you are, and there is extra comedy for people who are familiar with the famous basketball players (but they are still funny if you have no idea who Charles Barkley and Muggsy Bogues are).  It was really smart of the writers to place the live actors in a cartoon world for the majority of the film.  I imagine that it is significantly easier to film actors in front of a green screen than to animate these cartoons into live-action shots a la “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.”  Really, the only thing that I feel could have improved the movie (aside from a big twist) would have been the voice talent of Mel Blanc.  It could have been “more than a kids movie” if he had still been alive to voice all of the characters.  While nobody can replicate his voices, these voice actors get close enough that you don’t really notice after about 20 minutes, but it’s just missing something and that is Mel.  Well, perhaps we should address the acting, too.  Bill Murray is hilarious but let's be realistic... Michael Jordan is a better baseball player than he is an actor.  Regardless, it works for this film.  “Space Jam” is one of those things that will experience a renaissance as the children from this generation grow up and share it with their children (a la Ninja Turtles).  Even if you think that it is just for kids, give it a fresh watch and you will see that it truly is a classic.