Review: Space Jam: A New Legacy Exceeds All Expectations
Space Jam: A New Legacy Is a Slam Dunk So Far as This Looney Tunes Fan Is Concerned
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While James, Cheadle, and Joe are the film's main attraction, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention some of the standout performances from supporting characters like Zendaya's Lola Bunny, Jeff Bergman's Sylvester, and Lil Rel Howery. "It's kind of a small role," Zendaya told POPSUGAR. "But I wanted to be part of it because I really appreciate LeBron and all the work that he continues to do in and outside of his sport." Despite the short amount of screentime Lola receives, Zendaya makes the most of it and leaves you wanting more — especially after she impresses Wonder Woman.
From the moment Sylvester appears onscreen as Austin Powers's Mr. Bigglesworth, I could not stop laughing. And it's also Sylvester who becomes the group's almost saviour when he makes a clever nod to the original Space Jam with a hilarious half-time cameo. Howery manages to be one of the most relatable people in the film, playing a version of himself that gets sucked into the serververse to commentate on the Tune Squad versus Goon Squad game. Don't even get me started on Klay Thompson, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Diana Taurasi, and Nneka Ogwumike in their animated Goon Squad forms.
Space Jam: A New Legacy makes good on its promise to entertain fans of the original while being its own thing. It does so by letting the Looney Tunes experience life outside of their homeworld before they're able to reconnect with the audience and each other. The nostalgia factor is amplified not only by revisiting the original story in a creative way, but by including ties to other popular Warner Bros. movies and shows. There's a little bit of something for everyone, and the movie is best enjoyed as a fun trip down memory lane.