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Space Jam

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This article is about the motion picture. For other uses, see Space Jam (disambiguation).
Space Jam
Directed byJoe Pytka
Written byLeo Benvenuti
Steve Rudnick
Timothy Harris
Herschel Weingrod
Produced byIvan Reitman
Joe Medjuck
Daniel Goldberg
StarringMichael Jordan
Wayne Knight
Billy West
Dee Bradley Baker
Kath Soucie
Danny DeVito
Theresa Randle
Bill Murray
CinematographyMichael Chapman
Edited bySheldon Kahn
Music byJames Newton Howard
Distributed byWarner Bros. Family Entertainment
Release date
  • November 15, 1996 (1996-11-15)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$80 million
Box office$230,418,342

Space Jam, also known as Looney Tunes: Space Jam is a 1996 family film starring Michael Jordan and Wayne Knight, as well as the cast of the Looney Tunes. The movie also marks the debut of Lola Bunny. It was produced by Ivan Reitman, and directed by Joe Pytka (live-action), Tony Cervone, and Bruce W. Smith (animation).

A fictional account of Jordan's retirement from the NBA, the film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment on November 15, 1996. It plays out as an alternate story of Jordan's initial return to basketball, this time with him being inspired by Bugs Bunny and others. Although the film received generally mixed reviews, it was a box office success, opening at #1 in the US, and grossing over $230 million worldwide.

Plot

Bargaining for their freedom, the Looney Tunes challenge the Nerdlucks to a basketball game, since the thugs are all very short. Preparing to cheat in the game, the Nerdlucks return to Earth and steal the basketball talents of Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Charles Barkley, Muggsy Bogues and Shawn Bradley. The Nerdlucks use their stolen talent to become the "Monstars" (or "Mean Team"), gigantic creatures that the Looney Tunes are unable to defeat. To help them win, the characters recruit Jordan, who reluctantly agrees after the Monstars squash him into the shape of a basketball and bounce him around like one.

In the beginning of the game between the TuneSquad and the Monstars, the Looney Tunes are roughed up pretty badly until only Jordan, Bugs, Lola and Daffy are left standing, leaving them short one player. Bill Murray suddenly shows up and joins their team, averting forfeiture.

At the game's climax, the TuneSquad are down by one, and it is up to Jordan to score the winning point. Extending his arm with the power of toon physics, Jordan makes the basket and wins the game. He convinces the Monstars that they're bigger than Mister Swackhammer, whom the Monstars send to the moon. Jordan also has them return the stolen basketball talent, reverting them back to the tiny Nerdlucks, so they decide to stay with the Looney Tunes instead of returning to Moron Mountain. Afterwards, Jordan is returned back to Earth, where he gives the stolen talent back to the other NBA players. He is later prompted by his rivals to return to the NBA, mirroring his real-life comeback.

In the post credits, Bugs Bunny appears in the classic bullseye saying "That's all folks", only to be interrupted by Porky Pig, who in turn is interrupted by Daffy, who gets thrown out by the Nerdlucks, leaving them to complete the line. Michael Jordan then lifts the page to ask if he can go home now.

Cast

Live-action actors

  • Michael Jordan as a fictional version of himself, a professional basketball player who retires from the NBA to pursue a career in baseball, which is what his father wanted him to do.
  • Bill Murray as himself, one of Michael Jordan's friends and an aspiring basketball player, though Jordan doubts his abilities. Following his play with the Toon Squad, Murray impresses Jordan but decides to retire.[1]
  • Wayne Knight as Stan Podolak, a publicist who makes sure nobody bothers Michael Jordan.
  • Larry Bird as himself, one of Michael Jordan's friends and golfing partners. He crushes Bill Murray's dream of playing in the NBA.
  • Thom Barry as James Jordan, Michael Jordan's father.
  • Theresa Randle as Juanita Jordan, Michael Jordan's supportive wife. The character is based on Jordan's real life ex-wife.[citation needed]
  • Manner Washington as Jeffrey Jordan, Michael Jordan's oldest son.
  • Eric Gordon (not the current NBA player) as Marcus Jordan, Michael Jordan's youngest son.
  • Penny Bae Bridges as Jasmine Jordan, Michael Jordan's daughter.
File:Nerdlucks.jpg
The Nerdlucks as they appear in the film
File:We-challenge-you-to-a-basketball-game.png
The Looney Tunes challenge the Nerdlucks to a basketball game

Voice cast

Because the movie was made after the death of Mel Blanc, other actors were brought in to imitate his performances.

  • Billy West provides the voices of:
    • Bugs Bunny, a rabbit who acts as the de facto leader of the Looney Tunes and plays on their basketball team.
    • Elmer Fudd, a big-game hunter who seeks Bugs Bunny's demise. He plays for the Looney Tunes' team.
  • Dee Bradley Baker provides the voices of:
    • Daffy Duck, a greedy glory-hound duck and best friend of Bugs Bunny who plays for the Looney Tunes' team.
    • The Tasmanian Devil, a ravenous and crazed marsupial who plays on the Looney Tunes' team.
    • Toro, a bull that attacks the Monstar Pound during the game after Daffy painted his shorts red.
  • Danny DeVito provides the voice of Mister Swackhammer, the main antagonist and proprietor of the theme park "Moron Mountain", for which he seeks new attractions. He later acts as the coach of the Monstars.
  • Bob Bergen provides the voices of:
  • Bill Farmer provides the voices of:
    • Sylvester, a tuxedo cat who seeks to devour Tweety. He plays for the Looney Tunes' team.
    • Yosemite Sam, a short-tempered and extremely grouchy Western outlaw who plays for the Looney Tunes' team.
    • Foghorn Leghorn, a large Kentucky-accented rooster who plays for the Looney Tunes' team.
  • June Foray (the only original voice actor in the movie) provides the voice of:
    • Granny, an elderly woman who acts as the cheerleader for the Looney Tunes' team.
    • Witch Hazel, a witch who also acts as the cheerleader for the Looney Tunes' team.
  • Kath Soucie provides the voice of Lola Bunny, a female rabbit who plays for the Looney Tunes' team. Lola is also the newest character. She is Bugs Bunny's love interest and later becomes his girlfriend.
  • Maurice LaMarche provides the voice of Pepé Le Pew, a French-accented skunk who plays for the Looney Tunes' team.
  • Frank Welker provides the voice for Charles, Michael's pet bulldog who menaces both Bugs and Daffy when they were in Michael's house.
  • Colleen Wainwright provides the voice for Sniffles, the mouse.

The voices of the Nerdlucks are provided by Jocelyn Blue (Pound), Charity James (Blanko), June Melby (Bang), Catherine Reitman (Bupkus) and Colleen Wainwright (Nawt); the voices of the Monstars are provided by Darnell Suttles (Pound), Steve Kehela (Blanko), Joey Camen (Bang), Dorian Harewood (Bupkus) and T. K. Carter (Nawt). Dan Castellaneta and Patricia Heaton also make cameo appearances as a couple that the Nerdlucks (in disguise) sit next to at a basketball game.

Reception

Critical response

Space Jam received generally mixed reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 35% of critics gave the film a positive review based on 49 reviews.[2] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times gave Space Jam a "thumbs up," which Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune also gave the film, although his zeal was more subdued. Todd McCarthy of Variety praised the film for its humor. He also praised the Looney Tunes' antics and Jordan's acting.[3] Although Janet Maslin of The New York Times criticized the film's animation, she later went on to say that the film is a "fond tribute to [the Looney Tunes characters'] past."[1]

The soundtrack sold enough albums to be certified as 6x Platinum.[4] 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 box office success. At the end of its run, it grossed $90,418,342 in the United States and over $230,000,000 internationally.[5]

Awards and nominations

  • 1997 Annie Awards
    • Won: 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 World Animation Celebration
    • Won: Best Use of Animation in a Motion Picture Trailer

Soundtrack

Main article: Space Jam (soundtrack)

In other media

There was also a licensed pinball game by Sega based on the film and a video game for the Playstation, Sega Saturn and Windows PC by Acclaim.

The Monstars make a cameo in the Pinky and the Brain/Animaniacs episode "Star Warners" (a parody of Star Wars).

References

  1. ^ a b Maslin, Janet (1995-11-15). "Icons Meet: Bugs, Daffy And Jordan". NYTimes.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  2. ^ "Space Jam". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  3. ^ McCarthy, Todd (1996-11-17). "Space Jam". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
  4. ^ "RIAA Gold and Platinum Searchable Database". Retrieved 2009-01-23.
  5. ^ "Space Jam (1996)". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2011-12-02.
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