Last year, fans celebrated theSpace Jam 20th Anniversary, with the movie returning to the big screen for a limited time, as news started to spread about a potential sequel with current NBA superstarLeBron James. It’s a whole new year now, though, and it seems like a perfect time for an Honest Trailer, to tear this divisive movie to shreds. This four-minute video tackles everything wrong with the animated movie, includingMichael Jordan’s lack of acting skills, the massive plot holes in the story, and much more.
This week’s video is part ofScreen Junkies' “Fan Appreciation Month,” where they’ll create Honest Trailers for the movies fans voted for, withSpace Jamthe third selection in the special series. The video’s narrator,Jon Bailey, jokingly callsSpace Jamthe “Citizen Kaneof live-action animated hybrid basketball films,” which “blew the minds of every kid who saw it.” Unfortunately, these kids who adored the movie then are likely so blinded by nostalgia that they can’t see the obvious flaws ofSpace Jam, then and now. Thankfully, we have this honest trailer to point out all of its misgivings.
The trailer points out how ridiculous this story really is, centering on aliens stealing the talent from real 1990sNBA stars, so they can beat Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters in a basketball game that is tied to the fate of a failing amusement park. The aliens, known as the Nerdlucks, use their alien powers to steal the talents fromCharles Barkley,Patrick Ewing,Muggsy Bogues,Larry JohnsonandShawn Bradleyto become the Monstars. To level the playing field, the Looney Tunes characters bring inMichael Jordan, which is set during whatJon Baileydescribes as his “weird baseball era,” where the NBA legend retired to pursue his dream of playing pro baseball, adding that conspiracy theorists believe his “retirement” was actually a secret suspension for gambling.
This honest trailer also points out howBill Murrayseemingly has the ability to transfer between Earth and the other dimension the movie is set in, which isn’t actually “space,” another point made by the narrator.Jon Baileyalso points out some of the ways in whichMichael Jordanisn’t exactly the best role model, and how this basketball game between the aliens and Looney Tunes is the worst-refereed game sinceAir Budwas allowed on the court. This trailer also points out how the movie is essentially a “90-minute commercial” for all of the brandsMichael Jordanwas affiliated with, such as Nike, Wheaties and more.
For all of its flaws,Space Jamwas actually a big hit in 1996, earning $90.4 million domestically and $230.4 million worldwide. When adjusted for inflation, the domestic total would be equivalent to a $173.3 million movie today. As for the long-gestating sequelSpace Jam 2, we reported in May thatStar Trek BeyonddirectorJustin Linhas entered talks to direct, withLeBron Jamesstill attached to star and produce.Andrew Dodge(Bad Words) andAlfredo Botello(Hollywood Adventures) have come aboard to write the script. While we wait for more up this sequel, take a look at the honest trailer for the originalSpace Jambelow.
