Mac on Movies: 'Space Jam 2' flop is a matter of perspective

As someone who grew up on "Space Jam," I walked into Havre's Cottonwood Cinema 4 this past weekend fully prepared to hate "Space Jam 2: A New Legacy" but some 48 hours removed, I can only say I have mixed feelings.

First let me just point out the obvious, I'm reviewing this film with an already acknowledged bias and as a 26-year-old. This film was never intended for people beyond Warner Bros. counting on nostalgia to get people to open their wallets.

This film is intended for audience members perhaps age 5 and up, roughly the same age I was when I was introduced to "His Airness," Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny.

When my screening of the film was stopped due to technical issues, a little boy asked me and other members of the nearly nonexistent audience, "Hey guys, isn't this movie good?"

I nodded to appease the kid. As long as your little ones walk away happy, that's what matters.

Having said that ...

I'm glad I get paid to write these reviews now because this movie took up about two hours of my life I'll never get back. Still, I can appreciate this sequel wanting to acknowledge the first but being its own thing.

To summarize, James' on-screen son, Dom, is very into video games and game development, James wants him to focus on basketball and this places the characters at odds, the father learns a lesson, you see where this is going.

Don Chedle's character Al G. Rhythm, "a rogue artificial intelligence kidnaps the son of famed basketball player LeBron James, who then has to work with Bugs Bunny to win a basketball game," as the International Movie Database or IMDb put it

The plot is relatively similar to the original film as is the cast of baddies, the Goon Squad. Although, at least the Jordan film called its antagonists the slightly more creative Monstars. I don't even mind the updated 3D animation style as it is 2021 and at least some of the film is in the traditional 2D style.

In both, if the Looney Tunes' Tune Squad lose the game, they are trapped forever and the major basketball star, in this case LeBron James, must save the day. If you're not a child, you know this is predictable, so there's no point in discussing the plot itself.

If you're a child, this should be fun for you and if you are a parent, you'll probably walk away disappointed but my hope is you'll use this as a chance to watch the Jordan film with your kids and bond over what you grew up on.

What I have an issue with was Warner Bros. feeling the need to break the fourth wall by making itself a part of the movie while simultaneously referencing all the other media properties it owns.

Bugs Bunny's counterpart was made an Amazon by the comic book character Wonder Woman because Warner owns the comic brand DC - need I say more? Well, I will!

Another example was a corporate tie in. When James crash lands in the toon universe, the crater that results is in the shape of the Nike logo.

Financially, the sequel has been a success. This past weekend was the film's opening weekend and the movie site reported SJ2 brought in $31.7 million.

"LeBron James fans may even point out that it is better than the $27.5 million start that Michael Jordan's Space Jam kicked off with back in 1996. Though with inflation that was about a $47.6 million opening and the movie went on to make more than $156 million. (At the time of its release, that was the fifth best opening of 1996, but the movie dropped to seventh in subsequent weeks when 'Star Trek: First Contact' and the live-action '101 Dalmatians' opened bigger," the site said.

Critically, again, you can see where this is going. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 32 percent, citing basically what I've discussed. IMDb rated it 4.3 out of 10 and Common Sense Media gave it a 2/5.

If you want to go have a good time with your kids or young relatives, do so. If you go see this because of nostalgia, fine. Just be aware you are watching a drawn-out commercial.

I give it a 3 out of 5. Mac says "Meh."