Space Jam

''Space Jam'' is a 1996 American live-action/animated sports comedy film directed by Joe Pytka, with animation sequences directed by Bruce W. Smith and Tony Cervone, and written by Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick, Timothy Harris, and Herschel Weingrod. The film stars basketball player Michael Jordan as a fictional version of himself; Wayne Knight and Theresa Randle appear in supporting roles, while Billy West, Dee Bradley Baker, Kath Soucie and Danny DeVito headline the voice cast. The film is a fictionalized account of the timeline between Jordan's initial retirement from the NBA in 1993 and his 1995 return, during which he is enlisted by the ''Looney Tunes'' characters to aid them in a basketball match against visiting aliens who intend to enslave them as attractions for their amusement park.

''Space Jam'' was the first film to be produced by Warner Bros. Feature Animation and was released theatrically in the United States on November 15, 1996, by Warner Bros. Pictures under its Warner Bros. Family Entertainment label. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who were divided over its premise of combining Jordan and his profession with the ''Looney Tunes'' characters, while the technical achievements of its intertwining of live-action and animation were praised. It was a box office success, grossing over $250 million worldwide to become the highest-grossing basketball film of all time and the tenth-highest-grossing film of 1996.

A standalone sequel, '' Space Jam: A New Legacy'', was released in July 2021, with LeBron James in the lead role, and was unable to match the financial success of its predecessor.

Plot

In 1973, a young Michael Jordan tells his father, James, about his dreams of playing in the NBA. Twenty years later, following his father's death, Jordan announces his retirement from basketball and pursues a baseball career.

Meanwhile, in outer space, the amusement park Moron Mountain is in decline. Mr. Swackhammer, the park's proprietor, learns of the Looney Tunes from his minions, the Nerdlucks, and tasks them with abducting them to serve as attractions. Upon their arrival in the Looney Tunes' universe underground, the Nerdlucks hold them hostage before Bugs Bunny convinces them into allowing them to defend themselves. Noting the Nerdlucks' small stature, the Looney Tunes challenge them to a basketball game. After learning more of basketball, the Nerdlucks infiltrate various games, usurping the talents of Charles Barkley, Shawn Bradley, Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, and Muggsy Bogues. The Nerdlucks use these talents to transform into gigantic, muscular creatures, whom Sylvester refers to as Monstars. The Looney Tunes realize that they need professional help.

The Looney Tunes abduct Jordan into their universe as he golfs with Bill Murray, Larry Bird, and Jordan's PA, Stan Podolak. Bugs explains their situation to Jordan, who is initially reluctant to help. However, Jordan agrees after a confrontation with the Monstars, and forms the Tune Squad with the Looney Tunes; they are joined by Lola Bunny, with whom Bugs is enamored. Initially unprepared, Jordan sends Bugs and Daffy Duck back to his house to obtain his basketball gear. Jordan's children aid them and agree to keep the game a secret, while Stan, who is searching for Jordan, notices Bugs and Daffy, follows them into their world, and joins the team. Meanwhile, the incapacity of the five NBA players results in national panic that culminates in the season's suspension. The players try to restore their skills through various methods, with no success.

The game between the Tune Squad and the Monstars commences, with Swackhammer arriving as a VIP. The Monstars dominate the first half, lowering the Tune Squad's morale. During halftime, Stan sneaks into the Monstars' locker room, learns how they obtained their talent, and informs the Tune Squad. Disguising a bottle of water as "secret stuff," Bugs and Jordan motivate the Tune Squad, who improve in the second half using their cartoon physics. During a timeout, Jordan raises the stakes with Swackhammer: if the Tune Squad wins, the Monstars must relinquish their stolen talent; if the Monstars win, Jordan will become a new Moron Mountain attraction. On Swackhammer's orders, the Monstars become increasingly violent, injuring most of the Tune Squad.

With ten seconds left in the game, the Tune Squad are down by one point and one player, with only Jordan, Bugs, Lola, and Daffy still able to play. Murray unexpectedly arrives and joins the team. In the final seconds, Jordan gains the ball with Murray's assistance but is pulled back by the Monstars. On Bugs' advice, Jordan uses cartoon physics to extend his arm and achieve a slam dunk, winning the match with a buzzer beater. After Swackhammer scolds the Monstars for their failure, Jordan helps them realize that they only served him because they were once smaller. They insert Swackhammer inside a missile that sends him to the Moon. After relinquishing their talent, the Nerdlucks join the Looney Tunes and return Jordan and Stan to Earth in their spaceship.

Jordan later returns the talent to the five players, whose remarks convince Jordan to return to the NBA.

Cast

Live-action

Some of the film's live-action cast play fictional versions of themselves:
* Michael Jordan as himself
** Brandon Hammond as Michael Jordan (10 years old)
* Wayne Knight as Stan Podolak, a publicist and assistant who aids Jordan
* Theresa Randle as Juanita Jordan, Jordan's wife
* Bill Murray as himself; he dreams of joining the NBA and later briefly joins the Tune Squad
* Larry Bird as himself
* Manner Washington as Jeffrey Jordan, Jordan's eldest son
* Eric Gordon as Marcus Jordan, Jordan's youngest son
* Penny Bae Bridges as Jasmine Jordan, Jordan's daughter
* Charles Barkley as himself
* Shawn Bradley as himself
* Patrick Ewing as himself
* Larry Johnson as himself
* Muggsy Bogues as himself
* Thom Barry as James Jordan, Michael's father

NBA players Danny Ainge, Steve Kerr, Alonzo Mourning, Horace Grant, A. C. Green, Charles Oakley, Luc Longley, Cedric Ceballos, Derek Harper, Vlade Divac, Brian Shaw, Jeff Malone, Bill Wennington, Anthony Miller and Sharone Wright make cameo appearances in the film, as do coaches Del Harris and Paul Westphal and broadcasters Ahmad Rashad and Jim Rome. Dan Castellaneta and Patricia Heaton cameo as fans at a game between the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns.

Voice cast

* Billy West as Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd
* Dee Bradley Baker as Daffy Duck, Tasmanian Devil, and Bull
* Danny DeVito as Swackhammer, the proprietor of Moron Mountain, an intergalactic amusement park, who seeks new attractions for his failing business
* Bob Bergen as Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Marvin the Martian, Barnyard Dawg, Hubie and Bertie
* Bill Farmer as Sylvester the Cat, Yosemite Sam, and Foghorn Leghorn
* Maurice LaMarche as Pepé Le Pew
* June Foray as Granny
* Paul Julian as the Road Runner (archive recordings) (uncredited)
* Kath Soucie as Lola Bunny, Bugs' love interest and eventual girlfriend
* Jocelyn Blue as Nerdluck Pound, the aggressive orange leader
** Darnell Suttles as Monstar Pound
* Charity James as Nerdluck Blanko, the dim-witted blue member
** Steve Kehela as Monstar Blanko / Bertie's announcer voice
* June Melby as Nerdluck Bang, the neurotic green second-in-command
** Joey Camen as Monstar Bang
* Catherine Reitman as Nerdluck Bupkus, the eccentric purple member
** Dorian Harewood as Monstar Bupkus
* Colleen Wainwright as Nerdluck Nawt, the smallest yet scheming red member / Sniffles
** T. K. Carter as Monstar Nawt
* Frank Welker as Charles, the Jordans' pet bulldog

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