TAGGED AS: adventure, Comedy, Family, films, kids, movies, Podcast
(Photo by © Warner Bros.)
Having recently watched The Last Dance, we at RT really hope Michael Jordan hasn’t ever looked at the Rotten Tomatoes score board for Space Jam, his hybrid animation-live-action hit from back in 1996. That kind of number – 44% Rotten on the Tomatometer, according to the critics – is just the thing that would send the iconic wearer of the number 23 into the kind of dunk-happy rage that would have us ducking for cover.
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But while critics didn’t exactly shake their pompoms in glee over the intergalactic story of a basketball game that would decide the fate of the Earth, audiences ate it up and Space Jam became something of a cult hit over its 25 years of existence. That’s especially true for ’90s kids, bedecked in the Tune Squad gear they got for Christmas – and the latest Air Jordans – and just as enamored by the manic tornado-like madness of the Tasmanian Devil as they were by the charismatic star of the Chicago Bulls.
And then there was that soundtrack.
With Warner Brothers hoping to recapture all that magic – and, let’s face it, sell some merch – with the release of Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James, we thought there was no time like the present to revisit the original film in the latest episode of our podcast Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong. Was this merely a cynical cash grab by two major corporations keen to squeeze America’s parents’ pockets for all they could? Or was there a good time to be had here, with so much color and action and a totally random but totally winning turn by Bill Murray?
And can we even answer those questions honestly through the haze of nostalgia which has enshrined the film since its release?
To answer all those questions and more, our hosts Mark Ellis and Jacqueline Coley are joined by pop-culture MVP and Rotten Tomatoes correspondent Naz Perez. Will she side with the critics who dunked on Space Jam or the fans who believed this movie could – and did – fly? Tune in to find out.
Check out some more episodes of Rotten Tomatoes Is Wrong:
If you have a suggestion for a movie or show you think we should do an episode on, let us know in the comments, or email us at rtiswrong@rottentomatoes.com.
Meet the hosts
Jacqueline Coley is an editor at Rotten Tomatoes, with a focus on awards and indie coverage but with a passion for everything, from the MCU to musicals and period pieces. Coley is a regular moderator at conventions and other events, can be seen on Access Hollywood and other shows, and will not stand Constantine slander of any kind. Follow Jacqueline on Twitter: @THATjacqueline.
Mark Ellis is a comedian and contributing editor for Rotten Tomatoes. He currently hosts the Rotten Tomatoes series Versus, among others, and can be seen co-hosting the sports entertainment phenomenon Movie Trivia Schmoedown. His favorite Star Wars movie is Jedi (guess which one!), his favorite person is actually a dog (his beloved stepdaughter Mollie), and – thanks to this podcast – he’s about to watch Burlesque for the first time in his life. Follow Mark on Twitter: @markellislive.
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