In 1996, the odd pairing of Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes with basketball legend Michael Jordan in the movie titled ‘Space Jam’ was released in cinemas, and it became one of the biggest hits of the year. From the now NBA Hall of Famer trying to play basketball with the Looney Tunes cast, the introduction of Lola Bunny, and one of the most memorable movie soundtracks that included the hit song ‘Space Jam’ by Quad City DJ’s, ‘Space Jam’ became an instant classic of the 90’s era and is still spoken of and referenced to in other media to this day.

In 2021, the long-awaited sequel ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ has now finally hit cinemas, this time starring NBA Superstar LeBron James, with the returning Looney Tunes, as well as various other characters from the Warner Bros. library that spans almost 100 years.

The story begins with a brief flashback of LeBron’s childhood and his early basketball days as he learns the importance of hard work and what it takes to get him to where he is today. With a highly successful career in the NBA and happily married with three children, he struggles to have a relationship with his younger son Dom James (played by Cedric Joe and based on LeBron’s actual son Bryce James) who’s more interested in video games design than a basketball career like his father. While trying to connect with his son better by being more open-minded about his passion for developing games, they’re soon mysteriously transported into a virtual world ruled by an A.I. named Al-G Rhythm (Don Cheadle).

Al-G Rhythm takes advantage of the strained father-son relationship by offering Dom full control to create his own games, sending LeBron to the world of Looney Tunes where he meets Bugs Bunny, who helps put together a basketball team to prepare for a match against Al-G Rhythm and Dom’s team, the Goon Squad. LeBron and the reunited Tune Squad must win the game at all costs to rescue his son and bring him home.

The sequel to the 1996 movie truly stands out on its own as a standalone film. The original movie was well known for its over-the-top cartoonish humour, and its successor has all of that and so much more. The trailers gave a glimpse into how whacky the new movie will be, but the movie itself exceeds those expectations with a who’s who of Warner Bros’ 98-year long history. While recruiting members for the new Tune Squad, LeBron and Bugs actually cross over into other worlds including Austin Powers, Mad Max: Fury Road, Game of Thrones, The Matrix, Harry Potter, DC animated series, and more, creating many hilarious moments.

Before the match begins, even more, a lot more, many many more characters from the Warner Bros. library all come stampeding in to watch the big game. Amongst them are Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang, Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo, the Iron Giant, King Kong, The Mask, heroes and villains from various Batman movies and shows, Agent Smith, Space Ghost, The Flintstones, other Hanna-Barbera characters and so, much, more. Having them in the audience creates a breathtaking atmosphere that not only enhances the experience but also sends viewers on a real nostalgia trip. Award-winning sportscaster Ernie Johnson Jr. and comedian Lil Rel Howery also appear as the commentators for the big game.

18 years after their last appearance on the silver screen, the Looney Tunes are back in action in all their glory. While fans were skeptical of their 3D upgrades, during the movie they look just as good as their 2D counterparts, and all retain the unique personality traits that made them famous over the past several decades. All of the main cast get their chance to shine displaying their classic whacky antics. The only character who seemed a little odd in 3D was Porky Pig, as, unlike the real thing, he doesn’t have any fur like the other animal characters, and his smooth skin look makes him seem like he’s ready to be sold at the butcher’s. However, that’s quickly forgotten when he’s thrown into a rap battle, turning him into The Notorious P.I.G.

The Goon Squad may not be as memorable as the Monstars from the original film, but they still have a lot of fun moments and utilize their unique abilities in the game. Somewhat similar to the first movie, the Goon Squad also gain the talents of NBA and WNBA stars Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard, Diana Taurasi, and Nneka Ogwumike. The inclusion of WNBA players really adds to the diversity of the film.

LeBron as an actor might not win him any awards, but he is still very enjoyable to watch as he interacts with the Looney Tunes and has real touching moments as he tries to bond more with his son. His animated version was a lot more expressive and fun to watch, but can never replace the man himself who does show a lot of character development throughout the film. Cedric Joe as his son Dom does a really good job showing how distant he feels from his father and how passionate he is about game design which is also vital to the movie’s plot. Don Cheadle as Al-G Rhythm at first didn’t feel like he was going to be a convincing main villain, but he manages to surprise us with his diverse acting range and delivers a lot of hilarious and comical moments.

The movie’s soundtrack includes songs by Lil Wayne, Chance the Rapper, John Legend, Salt-N-Pepa, Jonas Brothers, and more, with their tracks perfectly fitting the atmosphere of a Space Jam film. Unfortunately, the iconic hit song from the original film, ‘Space Jam’ by Quad City DJ’s does seem to be missing from the sequel and is not even listed in the official soundtrack. Strangely, the song that was a major part of the first film’s identity was left out, as it is a real missed opportunity to pay homage to the 1996 film.

‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ goes above and beyond to set itself apart from the original film and delivers on so many hilarious moments that caters to audiences young and old. The nostalgia, the memes, the shameless product placements, the cameos, the surprise appearance of a certain NBA legend (maybe), the abundance of characters, and just about every corner of the Warner Bros. library being represented will really send moviegoers on a wild ride and a trip down memory lane.

It is no doubt one of the most fun and funniest films of the year that keeps bringing surprise after surprise. ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ is a real slam dunk and a must-see movie of 2021.

Written by: Sammy Hanson