 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Space Jam
- Review Date: October 6, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 1996
Common Sense Media says
Live-action/animation mix is good fun for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie has some cartoon violence. The film is likely to impress younger viewers, especially those without any sentimental attachment to the original Looney Tunes cartoons. The characters assemble a basketball team, including Michael Jordan as a member, to defeat a group of aliens who want to enslave them. By standing up against their potential slave masters, the Tunes' efforts are admirable, so the overall message is fairly positive. Jokes about merchandising and Jordan's ill-fated baseball career are thrown in for the older folks, but ultimately, this film will likely fail to hold the attention of many people over the age of 12.
What's the story?
Made shortly after Michael Jordan's first retirement from basketball and his short foray into professional baseball, SPACE JAM marks an attempt to revive the Looney Tunes franchise by creating a big budget live-action/animation feature riding on the basketball superstar's coattails. Bugs, Porky, Tweety, and other favorite Looney Tune characters assemble a basketball team, including Michael Jordan as a member, to defeat a group of aliens, the Nerdlucks, who are trying to enslave the Tunes as attractions in their outer space theme park.
Is it any good?
Space Jam does little to revive the Looney Tunes characters, who pretty much stick to their tried and true (and violent) antics, albeit in a new setting. As for Michael, his athletic prowess need not be proven, but the mix of animation in the basketball sequences tends to trivialize his abilities. With cartoon characters bouncing around every which way and easily slam dunking the ball, Michael's acrobatics seem minor in comparison.
While the film fails on many counts to best utilize the characters at its disposal, it's still likely to impress younger viewers, especially those without any sentimental attachment to the original Looney Tunes cartoons. By standing up against their potential slave masters, the Tunes' efforts are admirable, so the overall message is fairly positive. Jokes about merchandising and Jordan's ill-fated baseball career are thrown in for the older folks, but ultimately, this film will likely fail to hold the attention of many people over the age of 12.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether or not they think the blending of animation and live-action works or not. Would this movie have been better as a completely animated feature?
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AGE
A great movie that will appeal to the whole family!
Hilarious! A great movie for ages 5 and up! Anyone under 5 might get freaked out. There are some scary monsters in the movie and some flirting too. The famous Bugs Bunny and Lola kiss twice in the movie. And they do it pretty iffy. But besides that there is no real threat that can cause kids to act bad in this movie.
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AGE
An okay movie but could've way way worse than Kazaam .
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AGE
Pretty silly, but fun
This movie's a crossover between basketball and Looney Tunes. There is a plot, but it's mainly about playing basketball. Even though it's not as good as Looney Tunes, it's still good.
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AGE
Who ya gonna call? SPACE JAM!!!
Bill Murray and Wayne Knight were hailourious. The Looney Tunes were also pretty funny.
There is some cartoon violence, and Michael's pretty mutch the only positive role model while (just about) everybody else is either crazy and or mean.
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AGE
Funny some good messages
This movie is good for a few laughs and some positive messages about doing the right thing. I didn't like how the teams play to win by hurting each other, and some of the language was not innocent. The music and the messages are good about working your hardest even if you don't expect to win, and the power of believing in yourself.
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AGE
Its cartoon violence. We all grew up with it. My kidos 3 and 4 year old at daycare loved this film and never had any problems with it. It does have some semi scary moments with the aliens boss, but nothing terrible.
Good messages about helping others, and doing whats right.
Now, I personally got bored with it, but the kids asked for it almost everyday.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 15, 2011
AGE
THE WORST MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TERIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i HATED THIS SO BADLY I DON'T KNOW WHY I EVEN WATCHED IT. SO PREDICTABLE LAME AND TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THE WORST MOVIE IN HISTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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AGE
5 to adult
Very good 10/10. some mild violence
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts, space and aliens |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Joe Pytka |
| Cast: | Bill Murray, Michael Jordan, Wayne Knight |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 88 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 15, 1996 |
| DVD release date: | October 28, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | some mild cartoon violence |
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