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Space Jam
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Space Jam is a 1996 American live-action/animated film starring Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny (voiced by Billy West) and the rest of the Looney Tunes characters. It was produced by Ivan Reitman, and directed by Joe Pytka (live-action), Tony Cervone, and Bruce W. Smith (animation). The film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment on November 15, 1996. The film was also converted into a pinball game by Sega and a video game by Acclaim Entertainment.
ns called Nerdlucks arrive on Earth to capture the Looney Tunes characters and take them back to Moron Mountain, an outer space theme park belonging to their boss, Mr. Swackhammer, voiced by Danny DeVito, as the theme park is in need of a new attraction.
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Encyclopedia
Space Jam is a 1996 American live-action/animated film starring Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny (voiced by Billy West) and the rest of the Looney Tunes characters. It was produced by Ivan Reitman, and directed by Joe Pytka (live-action), Tony Cervone, and Bruce W. Smith (animation). The film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment on November 15, 1996. The film was also converted into a pinball game by Sega and a video game by Acclaim Entertainment.
Plot
Aliens called Nerdlucks arrive on Earth to capture the Looney Tunes characters and take them back to Moron Mountain, an outer space theme park belonging to their boss, Mr. Swackhammer, voiced by Danny DeVito, as the theme park is in need of a new attraction. Bugs Bunny convinces the aliens that the Looney Tunes must be allowed to defend themselves. Since the aliens are very short the Looney Tunes challenge them to a basketball game.
After viewing a reel on basketball and finding out about the NBA, the aliens steal the talent of five NBA stars (Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, and Shawn Bradley) and use it to transform themselves into the tall and muscular Monstars. Fortunately, the Monstars haven't stolen the talent of Michael Jordan because he has retired from basketball to pursue a career in baseball (a real-life event). Bugs Bunny gets Jordan to help them in their basketball game as their player-coach. After a hardened battle and despite taking several casualties (Bugs Bunny himself gets injured in the process) and with the timely arrival of Bill Murray, the Looney Tunes manage to win the game and their freedom. Swackhammer berates the Monstars for losing, but then they realize that since they're no longer smaller than him, they don't have to put up with his bullying anymore. They launch Swackhammer into space, and give back the stolen skills through the basketball they got it from, becoming Nerdlucks again. The Nerdlucks ask Bugs Bunny a request to stay in Looney Tune land, to which Daffy and Bugs reluctantly agree once the Nerdlucks demonstrate they're "Looney enough". Jordan then gives back the talent where the "bad players" touch the ball and become normal again. Jordan then decides to return to basketball, mirroring his real-life return.
Many major and minor characters from Looney Tunes shorts make appearances in the movie, and are even joined by Lola Bunny, a female hare that acts as Bugs' love interest.
Reception
Space Jam received mixed reviews. According to Rotten Tomatoes, only 37% of critics, and 46% of their selected "Top Critics", gave the film a positive review. Notable critic Roger Ebert gave Space Jam an enthusiastic "thumbs up," which Gene Siskel also gave the film, although his zeal was more subdued. Leonard Maltin also gave the film a positive review. Some critics compared it unfavorably to Who Framed Roger Rabbit, a popular film in which cartoon characters and live-action humans coexisted. Those who liked the film praised the visual effects, which were groundbreaking at the time. The visual effects particularly revolutionized the way in which movies with a high amount of effects were made and produced.
The Space Jam (soundtrack) sold enough albums to be certified as 6x Platinum. It also served as a high point for musical artist R. Kelly, whose song "I Believe I Can Fly" became a hit after it was featured on the film's soundtrack. Other tracks included a cover of "Fly Like an Eagle" (by Seal), "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" (by B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J, and Method Man), "Basketball Jones" (by Chris Rock & Barry White), and "For You I Will" (by Monica). The movie's theme song was performed by the Quad City DJ's.
Box office
Despite the mixed reviews, Space Jam was a major box office success. In its opening weekend, it grossed $27,528,529 in the United States. At the end of its running, it grossed $90,418,342 in the United States and $230,418,342 worldwide.
Cast of NBA players
Aside from Jordan, who plays the lead role, Space Jam contains a liberal amount of appearances by NBA players and coaches. Larry Bird plays golf with Jordan, and when the Monstars steal the NBA players' skills, they invade a game between the Phoenix Suns and the New York Knicks, causing the Knicks' Patrick Ewing and the Suns' Charles Barkley to make in-game mistakes. In these scenes, the Knicks' Charles Oakley and Derek Harper and the Suns' A.C. Green, Danny Ainge, and Paul Westphal (coach) are also onscreen.
Later in the film, Ewing and Barkley are joined by the now "gameless" Johnson, Bogues and Bradley. Also, when the Los Angeles Lakers are trying to avoid playing basketball in fear of getting infected, Lakers Vlade Divac, Cedric Ceballos, Anthony Miller, and coach Del Harris make a short cameo. Similar short appearances are also made by NBA players Jeff Malone, Alonzo Mourning, and Sharone Wright and TV commentators Jim Rome and Ahmad Rashad.
In addition, the NBA players make several insider jokes. When Barkley prays to God to give him back his skill, he swears to stop his trash talk and no longer have affairs with Madonna, sending up his image as a tough trash talker and in reference to his own real life affair with the singer. Also, Bradley contemplates becoming a missionary once again, again in reference to his own experiences as a Mormon missionary.
Cast
Voice actors
- Billy West - Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd
- Dee Bradley Baker - Daffy Duck, Tasmanian Devil, Bull
- Danny DeVito - Mr. Swackhammer
- Bob Bergen - Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, Tweety Bird, Bertie, Hubie
- Bill Farmer - Sylvester, Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemite Sam
- June Foray - Granny, Witch Hazel
- Maurice LaMarche - Pepé Le Pew
- Kath Soucie - Lola Bunny
- Frank Welker - Charlie the Dog
- Jocelyn Blue - Nerdluck Pound
- Joey Camen - Monstar Bang
- T. K. Carter - Monstar Nawt
- Dorian Harewood - Monstar Bupkus
- Charity James - Nerdluck Blanko
- Steve Kehela - Monstar Blanko, Announcer
- Catherine Reitman - Nerdluck Bupkus
- M. Darnell Suttles - Monstar Pound
- Colleen Wainwright - Nerdluck Nawt, Sniffles
Awards and nominations
- 1997 and 1998 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
- 1997 Annie Awards
- Winner: Best Individual Achievement: Technical Achievement
- Nomination: Best Animated Feature
- Nomination: Best Individual Achievement: Directing in a Feature Production (Bruce W. Smith and Tony Cervone)
- Nomination: Best Individual Achievement: Producing in a Feature Production (Ron Tippe)
- 1998 Grammy Awards
- Winner: Best Song Written Specifically for Motion Picture or for Television (R.Kelly) (For the Song I Believe I Can Fly)
- 1998 World Animation Celebration
- Winner: Best Use of Animation in a Motion Picture Trailer
- 1997 Young Artist Awards
- Nomination: Best Family Feature- Animation or Special Effects
Soundtrack
External links
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