Space Jam (film)

Space Jam is a 1996 Sports Comedy film starring Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes characters. The film was produced by Ivan Reitman, and directed by Joe Pytka, with Tony Cervone and Bruce W. Smith directing the animation. A fictional account of Michael's first retirement from the N.B.A., the film was released theatrically by Warner Bros. under the Family Entertainment label on November 15th, 1996. It plays out as an alternate story of Michael's initial return to basketball, this time with him being inspired by Bugs Bunny and others. Space Jam was a box office success, opening at #1 in the U.S., and grossing over $230,000,000 worldwide.

Storyline
A group of criminal aliens called The Nerdlucks, led by their boss, Mr. Swackhammer (Danny DeVito), plot to capture the Looney Tunes characters and make them their newest attractions in order to save their failing amusement park called Moron Mountain from foreclosure and bring in more customers. Seeing how short the aliens are, the Looney Tunes bargain for the freedom by challenging the Nerdlucks to a basketball game. 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 Michael Jordan, who reluctantly agrees after the Monstars squash him into the shape of a basketball and bounce him around like one. Near the end of the game between the TuneSquad and the Monstars, the Looney Tunes are injured one by one until only Jordan, Bugs, Lola and Daffy are left in the game, leaving them short one player. Marvin The Martian, who is the referee tells them that if there is no fifth player, the team will forfeit the game. At the last second, Bill Murray (who Swackhammer incorrectly identifies as Dan Aykroyd) appears in the stadium and joins the team, narrowly averting forfeiture. Meanwhile, Jordan reluctantly makes a deal with Mister Swackhammer to spare the Looney Tunes in exchange for his own freedom as his newest attraction if the TuneSquad loses. He readily accepts it and Bugs tries to talk him out of it, apparently aware what it means for Jordan being subjected to humiliation on Moron Mountain for all time. 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, who confronts them for losing. Fed up with their boss, the Monstars tie him up and send him to the moon. At Jordan's request, they return the stolen basketball talents from the other players by transferring them to a basketball. This reverts the Monstars back to the tiny Nerdlucks. Refusing to return to Moron Mountain to endure humiliation from their former boss, the Nerdlucks decide to stay with the Looney Tunes who only agree to let them if they can prove to be "looney". Afterwards, Jordan returns back to Earth in the Nerdlucks' spaceship, where he makes a dramatic appearance at the baseball game to the cheers of the audience, despite being late. The next day, Michael 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.

Live-Action Actors

 * Michael Jordan as himself
 * Bill Murray as himself
 * Wayne Knight as Stan Podolak
 * Larry Bird as himself
 * Thom Barry as James R. Jordan, Sr.
 * Theresa Randle as Juanita Jordan
 * Manner Washington as Jeffrey Jordan
 * Eric Gordon as Marcus Jordan
 * Penny Bae Bridges as Jasmine Jordan
 * Del Harris as himself
 * Charles Barkley as himself
 * Patrick Ewing as himself
 * Shawn Bradley as himself
 * Larry Johnson as himself
 * Muggsy Bogues as himself

Voice Cast
Because the movie was made after the death of Mel Blanc, other voice actors were brought in to imitate his performances.
 * Billy West as Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Daffy Duck, The Tasmanian Devil, Toro The Bull
 * Danny Devito as Mr. Swackhammer
 * Bob Bergen as Porky Pig, Marvin The Martian, Tweety Bird, Hubie and Bertie
 * Bill Farmer as Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester The Cat
 * June Foray as Granny, Witch Hazel
 * Maurice LaMarche as Pepé Le Pew
 * Kath Soucie as Lola Bunny
 * Frank Welker as Charles The Dog
 * Jocelyn Blue as Nerdluck Pound
 * Charity James as Nerdluck Blanko
 * June Melby as Nerdluck Bang
 * Catherine Reitman as Nerdluck Bupkus
 * Colleen Wainwright as Sniffles, Nerdluck Nawt
 * Darnell Suttles as Monstar Pound
 * Steve Kehela as Monstar Blanko
 * Joey Camen as Monstar Bang
 * Dorian Harewood as Monstar Bupkus
 * T.K. Carter as Monstar Nawt

Music
The soundtrack sold enough albums to be certified as 6x Platinum.[2] 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.

Critical Response
Space Jam received negative-to-mixed reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 35% based on 49 reviews. Roger Ebert gave Space Jam a "thumbs up," which his partner, Gene Siskel, 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 Michael's acting.[4] 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."

Box-Office
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.

Awards

 * 1997 and 1998 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
 * Won: Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures (Diane Warren for the song "For You I Will")
 * Won: Top Box Office Films (James Newton Howard)
 * 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 Grammy Awards
 * Won: Best Song Written Specifically for Motion Picture or for Television (R. Kelly) (For the Song I Believe I Can Fly)
 * 1997 MTV Movie Awards
 * Nomination: Best Movie Song (R. Kelly) (For the Song I Believe I Can Fly)
 * 1997 Satellite Awards
 * Nomination: Best Motion Picture- Animated or Mixed Media (Daniel Goldberg, Joe Medjuck, Ivan Reitman)
 * 1998 World Animation Celebration
 * Won: Best Use of Animation in a Motion Picture Trailer
 * 1997 Young Artist Awards
 * Nomination: Best Family Feature- Animation or Special Effects

In Other Media
The Monstars make a cameo in the Pinky & The Brain episode Star Warners (an obvious parody of Star Wars).