90's Throwback Month - Space Jam (1996)
Hey guys, Chuck here. You know, I love the Looney Tunes. Although I grew up with stuff like Animaniacs and Tiny Toons, the Looney Tunes were still popular back then, and are still popular today. I also enjoy basketball. Although I'm more of a baseball guy (the Oakland A's to be exact), I still enjoy basketball. I'm sating all of this because today for 90's Throwback Month, we'll be looking at a 90's family film that combined basketball with the Looney Tunes: Space Jam. Released in 1996, Space Jam came about after the release of a series of popular Nike commercials for the Air Jordan sneaker line that starred Michael Jordan and Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian. Due to the popularity of these commercials, Warner Bros. decided to produce a full-length feature headlined by Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny. So, let's take a look at that feature: Space Jam.
The movie opens up with a young Michael Jordan talking with his father about what he wants to do in the future. After an opening credits scene which shows footage from Michael Jordan's life, including his NBA career, we see a press conference where Michael announces his retirement from basketball in favor of starting a career in professional baseball. We then head into space, where we see a cosmic amusement park called Moron Mountain, where the owner (voiced by Danny DeVito) sends his cronies, the Nerdlucks, to Earth to fetch the Looney Tunes, who live in an animated world deep beneath the Earth's surface for some reason. In an effort to defend themselves, the Looney Tunes challenge the Nerdlucks to a game of basketball. To get a fighting edge on the Looney Tunes, the Nerdlucks steal the talent of the NBA's top stars (of the day, anyway): Charles Barkley, Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Shawn Bradley, and Patrick Ewing. The Nerdlucks then use the NBS players' talent to turn themselves into the gigantic Monstars. Bugs Bunny quickly realizes that he and the other Looney Tunes need some help.
Meanwhile, Michael's baseball career isn't going super well. Along with his new assistant, Stan (played by Wayne Knight), Michael goes out to a golf game along with NBA Legend Larry Bird and comedian Bill Murray. It is during this golf game that Michael is sucked into a golf hole, through a tunnel, and into Looney Tune Land. Bugs and the others break down their situation, and after being tossed around by the Monstars, Michael agrees to help. Unfortunately, he needs his basketball gear, so he sends Bugs and Daffy to get his sneakers and other gear. Now all geared up, Michael gets warmed up for basketball. Stan soon arrives and offers to help, which Michael agrees to.
So the stage is set, the Tune Squad (which is Michael and the Looney Tunes) vs the Monstars. Playing for the Looney Tunes include the likes of Taz, Daffy, Bugs, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Tweety, Wile E. Coyote, and new Looney Tunes character Lola Bunny. Yes, this movie introduced a new character to the Looney Tunes line-up with Lola Bunny, a girl rabbit who could be a likely love interest for Bugs. So the game starts with off with the Monstars dominating, but the next half sees the Tune Squad start to turn things around. However, after taking almost the entire team out, including Stan. Michael and the Tunes. with help from Bill Murray, ultimately win the game, and the Monstars give up the NBA Player's talent. After returning in time for his baseball game, Michael heads over to give the NBA Players their talent back. After a challenge to prove he's still got it, Michael returns to professional basketball, ending the movie.
Space Jam is definitely fun for kids. While their might not be much in terms of substance for adults, it's fine for kids. The Looney Tunes were cool, Wayne Knight and Bill Murray were hilarious, and Michael Jordan was okay. Now, while the movie did take a few liberties with real life events in Michael Jordan's life, like the reason he returned to the NBA, for the most part they did get most of the details right. As a kid, I loved Space Jam, and I still enjoy it today, just not as much as when I was a kid. It is for that reason that I give Space Jam a rating of 4.75/5. Now, Warner Bros. are planning on a sequel to Space Jam starring LeBron James, and I'm definitely interested in seeing it. But for now, this is Chuck signing off. See you guys next time as we continue 90's Throwback Month.
The movie opens up with a young Michael Jordan talking with his father about what he wants to do in the future. After an opening credits scene which shows footage from Michael Jordan's life, including his NBA career, we see a press conference where Michael announces his retirement from basketball in favor of starting a career in professional baseball. We then head into space, where we see a cosmic amusement park called Moron Mountain, where the owner (voiced by Danny DeVito) sends his cronies, the Nerdlucks, to Earth to fetch the Looney Tunes, who live in an animated world deep beneath the Earth's surface for some reason. In an effort to defend themselves, the Looney Tunes challenge the Nerdlucks to a game of basketball. To get a fighting edge on the Looney Tunes, the Nerdlucks steal the talent of the NBA's top stars (of the day, anyway): Charles Barkley, Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Shawn Bradley, and Patrick Ewing. The Nerdlucks then use the NBS players' talent to turn themselves into the gigantic Monstars. Bugs Bunny quickly realizes that he and the other Looney Tunes need some help.
Meanwhile, Michael's baseball career isn't going super well. Along with his new assistant, Stan (played by Wayne Knight), Michael goes out to a golf game along with NBA Legend Larry Bird and comedian Bill Murray. It is during this golf game that Michael is sucked into a golf hole, through a tunnel, and into Looney Tune Land. Bugs and the others break down their situation, and after being tossed around by the Monstars, Michael agrees to help. Unfortunately, he needs his basketball gear, so he sends Bugs and Daffy to get his sneakers and other gear. Now all geared up, Michael gets warmed up for basketball. Stan soon arrives and offers to help, which Michael agrees to.
So the stage is set, the Tune Squad (which is Michael and the Looney Tunes) vs the Monstars. Playing for the Looney Tunes include the likes of Taz, Daffy, Bugs, Sylvester, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Tweety, Wile E. Coyote, and new Looney Tunes character Lola Bunny. Yes, this movie introduced a new character to the Looney Tunes line-up with Lola Bunny, a girl rabbit who could be a likely love interest for Bugs. So the game starts with off with the Monstars dominating, but the next half sees the Tune Squad start to turn things around. However, after taking almost the entire team out, including Stan. Michael and the Tunes. with help from Bill Murray, ultimately win the game, and the Monstars give up the NBA Player's talent. After returning in time for his baseball game, Michael heads over to give the NBA Players their talent back. After a challenge to prove he's still got it, Michael returns to professional basketball, ending the movie.
Space Jam is definitely fun for kids. While their might not be much in terms of substance for adults, it's fine for kids. The Looney Tunes were cool, Wayne Knight and Bill Murray were hilarious, and Michael Jordan was okay. Now, while the movie did take a few liberties with real life events in Michael Jordan's life, like the reason he returned to the NBA, for the most part they did get most of the details right. As a kid, I loved Space Jam, and I still enjoy it today, just not as much as when I was a kid. It is for that reason that I give Space Jam a rating of 4.75/5. Now, Warner Bros. are planning on a sequel to Space Jam starring LeBron James, and I'm definitely interested in seeing it. But for now, this is Chuck signing off. See you guys next time as we continue 90's Throwback Month.
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