Space Jam
Director: | Joe Pytka |
Writers: | Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod |
Director of Photography: | Michael Chapman |
Editor: | Sheldon Kahn |
Music: | James Newton Howard |
Production Designer: | Geoffrey Kirkland |
Producers: | Ivan Reitman, Joe Medjuck and Daniel Goldberg |
Warner Bros.; PG; 99 minutes | |
Release: | 11/96 |
Cast: | Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Muggsey Bogues, Bill Murray, Larry Bird, Wayne Knight and Theresa Randle |
Voices of: | Danny DeVito, Billy West, Bradley Baker, Bob Bergen, Bill Farmer and Kath Soucie |
Jordan scores big in this live-action/animation extravaganza that is cocky enough to hurl jabs at Jordan, Disney and product placement. Veteran commercial director Pytka emerges as the expert ball handler, crafting a fun, lightweight romp that adroitly juxtaposes human and animated characters. And, there's even a plot. Well, sort of. When sleazy promoter Swackhammer (voice of DeVito) needs a new attraction to his Moron Mountain theme park in outer space, he kidnaps the Looney Tunes crew. Bugs Bunny (voice of West) challenges the local team to a basketball game, which, if the Tunes win, will ensure their return to Earth. Sensing tough competition, the Morons sap the talent of hoopsters Barkley, Ewing, Bogues, Larry Johnson and Shawn Bradley. The Tunes respond by kidnapping Jordan from a golf course. It's no surprise who wins the game, but plot is a mere detail here.