I am not trolling when I say this, but I consider Space Jam to be one of the greatest family movies of all time! With the sequel coming out earlier this year, what better time than now to look back at this classic from 1996! What is so great about Space Jam is that it is a movie that transcends age and is fun for people no matter if they are 5 or 105.
How to Stream or Download Space Jam
You can stream it or you can download the film from your favorite digital store. Click on the Download button located at the end of this review. Check out also our review of the sequel: Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021).
The Movie Review
When you think about it Space Jam came about at the perfect time. The whole Michael Jordan leaving the NBA to play baseball and then go back again worked very well in this movie’s favor and it is hard to imagine how it could have played out had that not went down.
I vividly remember what a huge deal it was when Michael Jordan retired (the first time) and how insane it was when he came back. This movie really tied into the whole Jordan mania that kicked up a notch during the mid-90s.
One on hand those of us who are of an age that remember this happening and who also were of an age that appreciated the cartoon antics of the Looney Tunes probably get that extra bit of appreciation from Space Jam. On the other hand, Space Jam is such a well-made, well-written, and fun movie, kids who have no idea who MJ is can still have fun with this.
My son had no idea who Michael Jordan was, he was just some basketball player to him. However, he loved Space Jam, and even now that he is a teenager, he would tell you it was one of his favorite movies. The plot of Space Jam sees Mr. Swackhammer who owns an intergalactic theme park want to get a new attraction to give his falling attendance figures a shot in the arm.
He decides to send his minion to Earth to capture the Loony Tunes and make them perform at his amusement park. These aliens are not exactly smart so Buggs is able to trick them into agreeing to a game of basketball where if they lose they will go with them without a fight. It seems like a great plan, but those aliens are sneaky.
They use a “magic basketball” to steal talent from some of the most talented NBA players, Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bouges, Larry Johnson, Shawn Bradly, and Charles Barkly. The real kick here is that as Jordan was retired, the aliens did not know who he was so they did not steal his talent. Buggs and the gang decide to go and get Michael to try and help them.
The movie is silly, ridiculous and just an absolute ton of fun. It has some great cameos, especially from Bill Murry and Larry Birdy. I think that Michael Jordan really shines here, sure he is not an amazing actor, but he has charisma and charm. This means that you really are rooting for him and the Loony Tunes to win their game.
I have to also say that the animation in Space Jam is fantastic. As a kid, I had never seen the Looney Tunes look as good as they did here, even now it holds up incredibly well. This is a fantastic movie for a family movie night and it is a movie that the parents can get just as many laughs out of as the kids can.
