Space Jam (1996)

Michael Jordan agrees to help the Looney Toons play a basketball game vs. alien slavers to determine their freedom.

Director:

Joe Pytka

Writers:

Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick,

Stars:

Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight, Theresa Randle

5 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Jordan	...	Himself
Wayne Knight	...	Stan Podolak
Theresa Randle	...	Juanita Jordan
Manner Washington	...	Jeffery Jordan (as Manner 'Mooky' Washington)
Eric Gordon	...	Marcus Jordan
Penny Bae Bridges	...	Jasmine Jordan
Brandon Hammond	...	Michael Jordan - 10 Years Old
Larry Bird	...	Himself
Bill Murray	...	Bill Murray
Thom Barry	...	James Jordan
Charles Barkley	...	Himself
Patrick Ewing	...	Himself
Tyrone Bogues	...	Himself (as Muggsy Bogues)
Larry Johnson	...	Himself
Shawn Bradley	...	Himself

Storyline

Swackhammer, owner of the amusement park planet Moron Mountain is desperate get new attractions and he decides that the Looney Tune characters would be perfect. He sends his diminutive underlings to get them to him, whether Bugs Bunny & Co. want to go or not. Well armed for their size, Bugs Bunny is forced to trick them into agreeing to a competition to determine their freedom. Taking advantage of their puny and stubby legged foes, the gang selects basketball for the surest chance of winning. However, the Nerdlucks turn the tables and steal the talents of leading professional basketball stars to become massive basketball bruisers known as the Monstars. In desperation, Bugs Bunny calls on the aid of Micheal Jordan, the Babe Ruth of Basketball, to help them have a chance at winning their freedom.

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Plot Keywords:

basketball | basketball game | alien | theme park | baseball | 

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Taglines:

Get ready to jam

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Genres:

Animation | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild cartoon language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Space Jam Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Basket Spatial

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£2,348,009 (UK) (21 March 1997)

Gross:

£11,262,322 (UK) (11 April 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, Northern Lights Entertainment, Courtside Seats Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS DTS-Stereo (digital 35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When flying towards "Moron Mountain", the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey can be seen at the very right edge of the frame floating in space.

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Goofs

When Michael first arrives home after the baseball game, the name of the dog "Charles" is on the dog house. When Daffy goes to Michael's house to get his shoes and shorts and the dog attacks him, the name is missing.

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Quotes

[first lines]
James Jordan: Michael? What are you doin', son? It's after midnight.
Michael Jordan at 10: I can't sleep, Paps.
James Jordan: Well, neither can we with all that noise you're making. C'mon, let's go inside.
Michael Jordan at 10: Just one more shot?
James Jordan: All right, just one.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, various characters quarrel over who gets to say "That's All Folks", then 'Michael Jordan' says "Can I go home now?" Then the Looney Toons "That's all folks!" written text slides over.

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Connections

Features Speedy Gonzales (1955)

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Soundtracks

"Fly Like An Eagle"
Written by Steve Miller
Produced by Seal
Additional production by Rashad Smith and Armando Colon
Performed by Seal
Courtesy of ZTT Records Limited/Warner Music UK Limited/Warner Bros.
Records Inc.

User Reviews

Simply Fun

If you're looking for intelligent, high-brow comedy...what is WRONG with you, this is a LOONEY TUNES MOVIE! Sheesh...this film is nothing outstanding, but it is simply fun. I'm sure that Michael Jordan enjoyed star billing, but as is usually the case when your co-star is a cartoon rabbit with more than 50 years of experience behind him (and one of the best catch phrases in cinema), he is up-staged by Bugs Bunny. Oh, not to say that Jordan turned in a poor performance. Thank goodness this guy at least seems to have a good sense of humor.But there's some simple, pure enjoyment in watching this film. I got a kick out of the big basketball game, and found the sequence with Bugs and Daffy retrieving Michael's lucky boxers to be a riot. Yea, the plot is pretty hare-brained ('scuse me, Bugs...duck-brained;D), but it's nothing unworthy of Looney Tunes. Don't ever forget that-this is a Looney Tunes film. They got away with using anything for a plot, and this movie is in the same tradition. It's like asking a movie about Beavis and Butthead to be artful and dramatic. Looney Tunes represent the goofy side of animation, and this film adheres well to that philosophy. I recommend this for any fan of Looney Tunes...oh yea, if your a sports fan, you should enjoy it too. I, a mild basketball fan, really enjoyed myself.