Movies - Space Jam

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	Movies - Space Jam

Space Jam is a 1996 American animated/live-action film starring Michael Jordan opposite 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) and Tony Cervone & Bruce W. Smith (animation). This film was released by Warner Bros. Family Entertainment in 1996.

Other voices included Bob Bergen as Porky, Tweety, Hubie and Bertie and Marvin the Martian, Bill Farmer as Sylvester and Dee Bradley Baker as Daffy and Taz.

The Looney Tunes crew did not return to movie status afterwards until 2003 in Looney Tunes: Back in Action
.

Space Jam was also converted in a pinball and a video game by Acclaim Entertainment for PC-DOS, Sega Saturn and PlayStation.

Tagline: Get Ready to Jam.

Plot

In this movie, 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. 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.

The aliens steal the talent of 5 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 (and play golf) (which was a real-life event). Bugs Bunny gets Jordan to help them in their basketball game. The Looney Tunes manage to win the game and their freedom. The Nerdlucks give back the talent of the NBA stars and choose to stay on Earth, but after they launch Mr. Swackhammer to the moon. Michael Jordan 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.

Notable cameos include Wayne Knight(as Michael's new manager, Stan), Bill Murray(as himself, even playing in the basketball game), Larry Bird and Scottie Pippen.

Critical response

Reviews of the movie were generally negative. Many critics compared it unfavorably to Who Framed Roger Rabbit
, a popular film in which cartoon characters and live-action humans coexisted in the same film as well. Basketball fans thought the movie to be demeaning to the sport, and to Michael Jordan himself. Many of them also claim it was not canon, despite referencing real-life events.

Those who liked the film praised the visual effects, which were groundbreaking at the time. Roger Ebert was among the few major critics to give Space Jam an enthusiastic "thumbs up." Some of his readers theorized that Ebert did so because he works in Chicago, and therefore would be supportive of any of Michael Jordan's endeavours. Leonard Maltin also gave the film a positive review.

Despite the negative press, the film 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 notable musical numbers appearing in the film include Fly Like an Eagle (by Seal) and For U, I Will (by Monica).

Cast of Looney Tunes characters

Bugs Bunny

Daffy Duck

Lola Bunny

Porky Pig

Elmer Fudd

Yosemite Sam

Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner

Sylvester

Sylvester Junior

Tweety

Granny

Witch Hazel

Rocky and Mugsy

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Space Jam ]

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Movies - Space Jam

Plot

Critical response

Cast of Looney Tunes characters

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