"Space Jam: A New Legacy" lively and colorful but a lazy rebranding
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) Michael Jordan’s acting career never quite took off after starring opposite Bugs Bunny, but he was a charismatic, self-aware good sport in 1996’s live-action/animation fantasy hybrid “Space Jam.” The movie itself was a high-concept hit that had and has its passionate fans and naysayers alike, and to its credit, imaginatively conceived and a lot of good fun for a product of pop-cultural cross-pollination. The ‘90s nostalgia is still strong with that one, which is why—that wasn’t all, folks!—a re-branding called “Space Jam: A New Legacy” exists. No matter the cynical knee-jerk takes on a favorite IP being recycled, it’s important to always wait and see the end result, hoping creative vision will trump goosing profit for Warner Bros. Alas, nothing is a slam dunk this time, but at least it makes you want to rewatch the original brand. As the first movie was a star vehicle for Michael Jordan playing the best version of himself, another once-in-a-generati...