Can Lebron revive a classic in Space Jam The New Legacy

by Kathia Woods

Summer movies are in full swing, and nothing says "fun" like LeBron James and the Looney Tunes. The film Space Jam A new legacy is not a continuation of Michael Jordan's Space Jam, but rather recycles the toons while making this more of a father and son sage.

LeBron James plays himself, while Cedric Joe (Dom James) and Sonequa Martin-Green (Kamiyah James) play his son and wife, respectively. Dom is the James family's second child, and unlike his older brother Darius (Ceyair J. Wright), he is not as obsessed with basketball. He has a different hobby: he designs video games. The plot revolves around how the younger James feels that his father insists on him focusing more on basketball while ignoring the fact that he has other interests.

This disagreement, combined with Dom's talent, propels them into the mainframe of Al G. Rhythm. He is enraged by LeBron's rejection of his idea and decides to kidnap Dom. Naturally, he entices the younger James by expressing his admiration for his video design creativity. Dom falls for the trap because he feels seen for the first time. Al then explains to LeBron that if he wants his son back, he must play basketball against his goons. This sets the stage for the battle. Lebron, in need of teammates to free his son, recruits the toons, and thus the adventure begins.

So the question is, will this new incarnation of Space Jam be successful? The solution is a little more complicated. The adults would say no, but this film was made for the younger members of the household, not the adults. Those who enjoy video games and all things LeBron.

LeBron James is a global icon who is branching out into new endeavors, one of which is acting. He clearly has charisma, as evidenced by his HBO show The Shop and various commercials. The chemistry he shares with Cedric Joe is palpable. The story, while generic, touches on an important issue: parents allowing their children to find their own passions rather than forcing one on them.

While these are some of the film's pluses, there are some drawbacks. The main issue is that the film is far too long. A kid's movie that lasts more than two hours can be difficult to sell to the younger members of the audience. The other type is product placement. We understand that movies are expensive, but this one felt like a long commercial at times. Don Cheadle, who is usually dependable, appeared to be trying a little too hard at times. His villain was unfunny, and he overacted in places where there was no need for it. As for LeBron, it may appear to be simple to play oneself, but not everyone is capable of doing so. He did a satisfactory job.

One of the best parts of this film are the cartoons. Seeing old favorites like Bugs Bunny, The Roadrunner, and Daffy Duck is always entertaining. Zendaya's performance as Lola Bunny is a fun addition to an already exciting cast. The animation and special effects are both excellent.

So, to summarize, is Space Jam A New Legacy a worthy addition to the Space Jam canon? No, but as previously stated, this film was not intended for adults. Because of LeBron and the cartoon, children will enjoy it. There aren't many options for the entire family at the theater, so this will fill a void.