“Space Jam” was the 1996 basketball comedy starring sports legend Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes. It was a groundbreaking achievement for its time by combining live-action and animation. Now, of course, that’s combo common is pretty common, especially with family films (“The Smurfs” and the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” series two recent examples). So talk of a “Space Jam” sequel shouldn’t comes as much of a surprise.
What is surprising about the buzz surrounding a “Space Jam 2” is the source. The talk is not coming from WB (the studio behind the original) or even Bugs Bunny (the other star of the original), but from NBA player LeBron James, who says he wants to star in “Space Jam 2”. Could this movie be made? Sure. The Looney Tunes need to return to the big screen (after 2003’s “Back in Action” bombed). And the technology is so much better that the film could look great.
Here’s the biggest problem: LeBron James is no Michael Jordan. James isn’t close to being as popular as MJ was during his playing days (in fact millions of basketball fans hate “King” James). On way they’re going to this movie. ESPN.com has their own list of sequels LeBron really should star in. They include: “Avatar 2”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 2” (in which he’d play Snow White), and “ET 2” (he’d play Elliot, Chris Bosh would play the Alien).
Basketball superstars trying to make it big on the big screen is nothing new. The newest is Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder who just starred in his own family film called “Thunderstruck” (currently playing in a select number of states). And who can forget Shaquille O’Neal’s movie career (though he may want to – Shaq was actually nominated for two Razzie Awards – “Blue Chips” and “Steel”).
But his most memorable performance had to be as the title character in “Kazaam”, in which he played a genie. The movie (released in 1996) was a bomb, and only has a 4% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Hard to believe he wasn’t nominated for a Razzie for that performance as well.
I’d like to see a remake of “Kazaam”, with Shaq reprising his role. He’s become a much better actor since then, with roles in “Jack and Jill” and the upcoming “Grown Ups 2”, along with that Buick commercial in which he makes that joke that he’s got shoes bigger than most cars and points to the camera. I’ve seen that ad dozens of times and I laugh every time.