’90s Comedy Featuring Ultimate Sports Legend Defined An Entire Generation

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 12 seconds ago

You ever wondered why Hollywood cranks out movies with the absolute craziest plots? Like, somebody had to greenlight stuff like Food Fight, an insanely ugly film filled with both an inexplicably star-studded cast and horny lunch meat. Jack and Jill? Yeah, somebody had to sign off on Adam Sandler dressing in drag and playing his own twin sister. Why the heck does Hollywood keep making movies that even a toddler can tell are completely insane? Simple: this is an industry that has exemplified the phrase “so crazy that it just might work.” That is, every now and then, a bonkers idea leads to a smash hit at the box office.

That happened back in 1996 with Space Jam, a movie that looked terrible on paper. It was designed to mix real actors with cartoons, something that only ever really worked in one film (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?). Plus, the main human performer was Michael Jordan, someone known better for dunking than acting. On top of that, the movie gave Bugs Bunny a sexy rabbit love interest who might as well have been designed in a lab to activate furries. Crazy, right? However, all of this insanity added up to one of the most entertaining movies of the decade, one that has managed to entertain entire generations of cartoon fans.

Time To Bugs Out

The premise of Space Jam is that an evil alien sends his goons to abduct the Looney Tunes, intent on making them attractions in his failing amusement park. When they arrive, Bugs Bunny makes the impressively wacky choice to challenge these diminutive extraterrestrials to a game of basketball. Things go south, though, when the aliens steal the prowess from various NBA players and transform into the tallest, strongest players in the galaxy. To even things out, the Tunes bring the greatest basketball player in the world out of retirement: Michael Jordan. With his help, the Tunes and the Monstars play the most high-stakes game in sports history!

Jordan was, of course, the real X factor in Space Jam. Everyone knew he could play ball, but how well could he act? As it turns out, the answer is very well! It helps that Jordan is so naturally charismatic whenever he is on the screen. He doesn’t take anything too seriously, and his breezy line deliveries are always good for a laugh. At the same time, his presence really legitimizes Space Jam as an actual sports movie. Plus, if you grew up watching Jordan lead the Chicago Bulls to victory, there is a truly nostalgic thrill at watching him back in action.

Return Of The King

Speaking of action, Space Jam has plenty of it. The basketball scenes are wonderfully intense, pairing larger-than-life characters with what is arguably the most exciting sport (sorry, Jordan, baseball can suck it!). Plus, every scene is filled with the slapstick comedy you’ve come to expect from the Looney Tunes. While their antics were funny enough back in the ‘90s, they seem that much funnier now that movies featuring these characters are few and far between. In a world filled with increasingly bland and unfunny Pixar films, it feels great to kick back with a 2D film that keeps you laughing in every scene of its short runtime.

Chances are that you watched Space Jam when you were much younger. Now, it’s become the perfect film to share with your own children, and that’s largely because there is plenty of humor for different audiences. Kiddos will enjoy the off-the-wall antics of the cartoons and the aforementioned slapstick comedy; adults will enjoy the bevy of pop culture references and the sheer nostalgia of revisiting the weirdest basketball game Michael Jordan ever played. Plus, every generation will enjoy how seamlessly Space Jam blends animation and live-action. The result is a visual feast that shows us just how cool (and, of course, bizarre) it would be to interact with cartoons.

Hoop Dreams Come True

It’s impossible to talk about Space Jam without talking about its soundtrack, which is basically an anthology of iconic millennial tunes. This includes Seal’s “Fly Like an Eagle” and R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” as well as unexpected bangers like “That’s the Way (I Like It)” by the Spin Doctors and “Basketball Jones” by Barry White and Chris Rock. Oh, and speaking of bangers, “Space Jam” by the Quad City DJs is a genuine bop, one you’re going to be humming long after the credits roll on this legendary ‘90s film.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that Space Jam eventually got a sequel, and that thing was a soulless abomination from beginning to end. Because of that, you may be hesitant to return to the film that kicked off the franchise. You shouldn’t be, though: the original is just as infectiously fun and creatively chaotic as you remember. Ready to channel the past and relive your old hoop dreams? Or maybe you just want to hang out with your favorite cartoons from yesteryear? Well, here’s your chance, do your chance, and stream Space Jam for free on Tubi. And if Lola Bunny awakens anything in you, then for the love of God, keep that sh*t to yourself!