It's bizarre to think that a film that was really an excuse to cash in on old Nike adverts that happened to feature the Looney Tunes, was such a popular film. It's very much a 1996 film with all sorts of tropes that came about at the time and in later years, people appreciate it more due to nostalgia, how it introduced a Looney Tune that was not seen in the classic shorts and just how 90s of a film it was. Now we have a standalone sequel which aims to pay homage to the original film while also being a 2021 film with the tropes from more modern times. Of course there was a Looney Tunes film that was released between these two films (which is also an all-time favourite film of mine), but these large gaps between releases makes me think that WB really want to have their fans remember their flagship franchise (besides DC and Hanna-Barbera of course) and will do just about anything to make sure every generation of people gets a chance to see these beloved toons and appreciate them. Oh and basketball too because that makes sense... right? Well get your carrot juice, your guns for Duck/Wabbit season and a basketball and let's see how these unlikely things come together in two films that may not be perfect, but get some appreciation here and there:
Space Jam
A film that gives us a fictionalized account of Michael Jordan (who plays himself) from his initial retirement from basketball and his 1995 comeback. Jordan one day decides to leave basketball to pursue baseball which seems to make him popular despite a lacking skill set. Meanwhile, in outer space, a group of small aliens dubbed the Nerdlucks are sent to Earth when the outer space amusement park they come from, faces a decline in sales. There they attempt to enter the Earth's core where, for some reason, the Looney Tunes reside and attempt to take them prisoner for the park. Bugs Bunny (voiced by
Futurama legend, Billy West) and the gang take great pleasure in mocking their size, even going as far as to challenge them to a game of basketball. Using their powers, the Nerdlucks go to the real world and manage to take the basketball skills of some well known NBA players which turns them into giant horrific monsters, giving them the size advantage. With no other option, Bugs seeks out professional help and finds Jordan who just so happens to be playing golf with Bill Murray and Larry Bird (both playing themselves) at the time. He gets sucked into the Looney Tunes world and reluctantly joins up with the gang to help them in their dilemma. It's no slam dunk, but like I said, this is very much a 1996 film. It has all the tropes that came from that era and introduces us to a new female character who would join the gang for later adventures. The acting from Jordan feels awkward and when looking back to it, perhaps having him animated while in the Looney Tunes world would make more sense than him being live action. Though, the same could be said during the moments when the animated characters are in the live action world. Nevertheless, it is a silly film that's very much a Looney Tunes and NBA film that may not be understood well by many, but it's good fun despite some awkward acting and holds up well even today. It's no
Roger Rabbit and doesn't beat
Back in Action, but it's not bad for what it is and aims to be. 7/10
A New Legacy
Serving as a standalone sequel (though at least one reference to the original is mentioned), basketball champ LeBron James (played by himself) once had an interest in the Looney Tunes and video games, but gave those up to pursue a career in basketball. Years later, he has a family and wants his sons Darius (played by Ceyair J. Wright) and Dom (played by Cedric Joe) to follow his footsteps despite protests from the latter who instead wants to create video games. At the urging of his wife (played by Star Trek and The Walking Dead's very own Sonequa Martin-Green) to show interest in what Dom is doing, LeBron takes Dom to a meeting at Warner Brothers to talk about a movie deal and new technology. While he dismisses the idea, Dom shows interest and the pair get tricked and taken inside a virtual
Ready Player One like universe full of planets based on WB's IPs. With his son been taken by a being called Al-G Rhythm (played by Marvel's Don Cheadle), LeBron is forced to form a team to play a bit of basketball to free himself and his son from this universe of sorts. But the team he assembles may be a bit looney and undisciplined for his liking. There is no denial that this film, like the original, is not perfect. But ignoring the amount of product placement and use of many of WB's IPs, it's actually surprisingly a lot of fun. You see each of the tunes in different worlds to their own, and it's kind of like watching a journey of the animation process from traditional 2D to 3D CGI. It is fun, a bit cringy here and there, but very much a Looney Tunes film with a few other Warner Brothers characters appearing including a team of superheroes, a drunk grandpa and his son, those characters that live in the water tower, some meddling kids and their dog and a couple of giant monsters among so many others. But despite that, the focus still remains on our main characters. 7/10
Love them or hate them, these two films are as about 1996 and 2021 of a film that you are going to get. They are not perfect, nor did anybody ask for this unlikely crossover to happen. But they are both fun, you are going to have a good time despite the many problems both films have, and just treat them as guilty pleasures if nothing else. 7/10
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