‘Space Jam’ vs. ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’: Breaking Down the Real Michael Jordan and LeBron James Debate

On November 15, 1996, Warner Bros. released a movie that could change the course of human history – at least that’s what a group of millennials will tell you.

“Space Jam” hit theaters 25 years ago and goes on to become the highest-grossing basketball movie of all time. (No me don’t make it . Sounds crazy, doesn’t it?) For a certain generation, the battle between Michael Jordan’s Team Tune and the Monstars was the pinnacle of cinema.

THAN: Chronicles of ‘Space Jam’: 25th anniversary

Then, on July 16, 2021, Gen Z gets its own special treat of animated madness. “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” which stars LeBron James in the title role alongside Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters, topped the box office opening weekend though also available to watch on HBO Max.

Since there hasn’t been enough debate regarding Jordan and James, it’s time to decide definitively whether “Space Jam” is the better movie. I watched both the 1996 and 2021 versions of “Space Jam” seamlessly before the original version’s 25th anniversary, and jotted down some notes during each viewing. (For example, I wrote the words “Foghorn Leghorn was just murdered”, “Bugs are intoxicated with carrot juice” and “Why are aliens running a crazy amusement park?”) Then, I divide everything into five categories to define you.

Full disclosure: I’m part of the milennial team, but I haven’t watched “Space Jam” in over two decades and only remember the basics of the plot. I went into this experience with an open mind – and left with a melted brain. Anyway, let’s move on to the first type…

Better Actor: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

I think this will be an easy win for James. He showed his moment of legit humor in “Trainwreck,” and he’s unafraid to play a social media goofy dad. (He managed to sneak into a “Taco Tuesday” greetings near the end of the movie.)

Well, this was a closer race than I expected. As for the natural charisma both guys hold, both Jordan and James are strangely frozen.

THAN: MJ’s legendary trash talk dominates ‘Space Jam’ episode

Jordan barely changed the timbre or volume of his voice. I never believed him to be the MJ character, mainly because he’s overzealous and never curses at Porky Pig for his looks and doesn’t want it to be as bad as he is. He was sucked into a hole and landed in Looney Tunes Land, and the only emotion he showed was mild discomfort after his round with Bill Murray and Larry Bird was cut short. (He may have a few thousand dollars on the line.)

James often looks as if he is reading “Saturday Night Live” hint card , especially in the scenes where he tries to connect with his son, Dom. Even the screenwriters acknowledge the limitations here, as James says in the film, “Athletes act? That never goes well.” Breaking the fourth wall doesn’t work when that’s what’s actively happening on the screen. (Also, it doesn’t do much other than “Deadpool.” Man, I should watch the movie “Deadpool” instead.)

Despite the poor performance, James and “Space Jam: A New Legacy” entered this round. We’ll see if this ruling forces Jordan back into the acting game for “Space Jam: And I Took That Personally.”

Conspiracy nonsense

Okay, if you haven’t seen the movie “Space Jam,” I desperately need you to read these plot summaries from Rotten Tomatoes:

In “Space Jam,” an alien spaceship flies past a Jordan minor league baseball game and explodes over a Piggly Wiggly parking lot. In “Space Jam: A New Legacy”, Porky Pig transforms into the infamous HEO and wins a rap battle in the middle of a basketball game. Don Cheadle stars as the villain known as Al-G Rhythm, the aforementioned rouge AI The Goon Squad consisting of NBA player hybrids. These are just the things you accept in the “Space Jam” universe.

THAN: Poke a hole in the original ‘Space Jam’ with an authentic intro

But by far the most ridiculous aspect of both movies is the fact that Jordan is dropped off by Stan Podolak (played by Wayne Knight) in this car and in front of this house.

Jordan, one of the most famous people on the planet at the moment, is alive here ? I would accept aliens sneaking into Madison Square Garden to steal the power of the NBA All-Stars, but this is a bridge too far. Completely nonsensical. A win for the original.

Using Looney Tunes

“Space Jam” offers some classic Looney Tunes hijinks. When the pre-energy Monstars reach the land of Looney Tunes – which is clearly located inside the Earth’s core? – Bugs Bunny goes through his whole silly routine and drops a line that says “Tiny, isn’t it?” When they called Jordan a chicken, Foghorn Leghorn replied, “I like that comment.” There are also the tough jokes of Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. (I forgot that Coyote is one of the most amnesiac characters in entertainment history.)

“Space Jam: A New Legacy” took a different route, throwing Looney Tunes into other Warner Bros. properties. and give them a more modern look in a basketball game with Goon Squad. The updates are understandable considering the peak happens in the digital world, but there’s something just… off.

No no no. Creepy. Hate it. Back to being basic cartoon. “Space Jam” increased 2-1.

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In the first episode of “Space Jam”, Jordan can be seen eating McDonald’s in what appears to be a motel room, where mob fights are common. As if that wasn’t clear enough, Podolak then walked into the room and said this: “Come on, Michael. It’s game time. Put on your Hanes. Thread your Nikes. Get Wheaties and Gatorade yours, and we’ll pick up a Big Mac on the way to our ballpark.”

Incredible work. Newman from “Seinfeld” knocks them all down in seconds. He wants to go to McDonald’s when Jordan is eating McDonald’s.

However, “Space Jam: A New Legacy” is on another level. The original sneaks in the ad. Version 2021 To be a giant advertisement for Warner Bros. Here is a sample of the popup properties:

• Austin’s Power
• DC Comics (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman)
• Game of Thrones
• Gremlins
• Flint
• Harry Potter
• King Kong
• Mad Max
• Matrix
• Rick and Morty
• Scooby Doo
• Bear Yogi

On top of that, when James crashed into Tune Land, he literally left a Swoosh-shaped hole in the ground.

A tear was running down Darren Rovell’s eye. Go brand! We were all trailing 2-2.

Basketball game sequence

I had hoped this last category would be a lively, contested winner, but it turned out to be a flop.

THAN: Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan read the original script in the reading board

While the game “Space Jam” has some general silliness – psychotic killer Wile E. Coyote puts dynamite on the back board – it mostly follows the rules of basketball. Team Tune fell behind early, then had a frenetic comeback punctuated by Jordan’s game-winning team. (He stretched his arms from half-court to basket because this was Looney Tune’s Land. The Monstars should have fouled.)

The game “Space Jam: A New Legacy” is an absolute mess. It’s based on the rules of a video game Dom designed, so players can earn “style points” and use power-ups. At one point, the score was 1,039-37 in favor of the Goon Squad. Dom switches from Goon Squad to Tune Squad in the middle of the game. Yeah sure?

THAN: Bill Murray wants credit for his role in the game that decides the winner

Similar to Jordan, James hit a whistle to give Team Tune victory. Dom throws a booster at James’ feet to give him the vertical jump needed to finish at the belt or something. I do not know. Ernie Johnson and Lil Rel Howery are calling the game, so the whole thing might just be an illusion.

Jordan and “Space Jam” overcame this series with a score of 3-2.

Final Judgment

Analysis aside, there’s one big reason the original wins over reboots: It’s much shorter. “Space Jam” finished with a run time of under an hour and a half, while “Space Jam: A New Legacy” was close to two hours.

These are not good movies. I cannot stress this enough, especially for you my younger generation. Nostalgia has clouded your judgment. I realize they are designed for kids, but if the purpose is to entertain a younger audience, just pick any Pixar movie. Yes four Movie “Toy Story”.

Or, maybe I was wrong. Is Moron Mountain a commentary on the employer-employee relationship and the pitfalls of capitalism? Is Al-G Rhythm a cautionary tale about the use of AI and the true cost of modern technology? Will I never be as happy as I was when I saw the original 1996 while basking in a Fisher Price bracelet?

After a moment of reflection… No, “Space Jam” and “Space Jam: A New Legacy” suck. Happy 25th Anniversary!