Space Jam 2: A ‘Turrible’ Ode to LeBron James & Warner Media

There was nothing ‘looney’ about LeBron James’ Space Jam 2: A New Legacy, but rather a prolonged and unnecessary ode to James, Nike and Warner Media.

It’s amazing how James and company single-handedly ruined Michael Jordan’s movie (yes, essentially it is MJ’s movie) and turned it into a something that’s unbearable to watch. The nearly two-hour long film can easily be misinterpreted for a Nike and Warner Media commercial as it is overwhelmed with endless product placement by both companies alike. Which begs the question— is Space Jam really a kid’s movie or just a really drawn-out propaganda?

If you guessed the latter, then it is most likely that you guessed the correct answer. What? Allow us to explain.

If you watch the first Space Jam (MJ’s version), you can easily appreciate the film’s ‘looney’ plot and timeline— from Jordan retiring from the NBA, his time in Minor League Baseball and finally to when he gets sucked into Looney Tunes’ World by the great Bugs Bunny while playing golf with Bill Murray, Larry Bird and his personal assistant— which is where the real story unfolds. It’s short and sweet, and a breeze to watch— no in-your-face advertisement, no endless Warner Bros. movie publicity; just pure, family-friendly entertainment.

On the other hand, the focus of Space Jam 2 doesn't necessarily reside in telling a fictional story, but rather about selling James— his legacy, accomplishments and accolades. Yes, James is arguably the best player in the NBA right now, but that's information that doesn’t need to be shoved down viewers’ throats for two hours— that privilege is reserved for loyal ESPN viewers.

Oh, and let’s not forget Warner Media’s incessant publicity by practically opening up the archives and inserting each Looney Tune character into different Warner Bros. productions— Lola Bunny into Wonder Woman, Tweety and Granny into The Matrix, Daffy Duck into Superman and so on. Also, how about King Kong just towering over the court? Or the swarm of villains that were behind the Goon Squad’s bench for the finale?

Ok, aside from the endless propaganda and incessant product placement, there were some bright spots throughout the film. From Bugs Bunny’s usual shenanigans, to Notorious P.I.G’s (Porky Pig) rap battle with Al G. Rhythm (Don Cheadle) to James’ ‘Life Saving’ Dunk Finale.

Also, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge Cheadle’s stellar performance as the film’s antagonist.

Yes, this sequel is difficult to watch, but Cheadle was the movie’s ‘diamond in the rough.’ Every story needs a villain and Cheadle played the villain role to perfection— Rhythm was manipulative, aggressive and above all deliberate. Every move was calculated to the tee, which made it seem like it was impossible for James to defeat him. Rhythm is defeated, of course, but not before giving James a run for his money.

James’ performance, on the other hand, wasn’t as brilliant. Yes, James is a successful family man, entrepreneur and social media star, but so far he’s an unsuccessful actor. The NBA superstar didn’t look comfortable in his own skin and at times it felt like he was robotic and monotonous. Granted he may have been constricted, but regardless it wasn’t an All-Star performance.

Needless to say, Space Jam 2: A New Legacy was overhyped, over flaunted and over promoted— kind of like James in a way. It’s not worth the price of admission and if you’ve already had the misfortune of watching it, it most certainly isn’t worth watching a second time.

In the words of the great Charles Barkley, Space Jam 2 was a ‘turrible idea.’