It has been three decades since the original Space Jam made a splash in my young life (and even more so in my little brother Jeff’s life).
Nostalgia has blinded me from finding out if that film truly holds up or not (sorry to my nephews, but the same could not be said for the 2021 sequel), but it was, at the very least, a childhood milestone. Naturally, it made me interested in practicing basketball for a bit, yet my short height was holding me back (along with a childhood friend who, while talented, loved to showboat and win over me). Perhaps had GOAT come out in my childhood, things would be different.
Basically, Zootopia plus hoops, the plot is rather mundane and straightforward. Since his youth, an ambitious goat named Will Harris (Caleb McLaughlin, fresh off of Stranger Things) has dreamed of playing roar ball (a co-ed version of Basketball), being inspired by his devoted mom (Jennifer Hudson). He may be the smallest, but he makes up for it with skills (and some trash talk). He is eventually recruited by his struggling home team, the Thorns, and is elated to meet his favorite player, Jett Fillmore (though he soon learns the sad truth we must face about meeting our heroes). In the twilight of her years, Fillmore yearns to finally win the championship (“the Claw”), despite a new rival in Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre).
There are characters aplenty in the film to appeal to all ages. These include a Rhino with over hyperactive twin girls, a has-been orangutan coach (the wonderful Patton Oswalt), and a scene-stealing chameleon (Nick Kroll) who is as unpredictable as they come.
What keeps this film from reaching the next division of animated films is its lack of extra detail in the world-building. The rules of Roar Ball are not entirely explained: the biggest difference I could tell is that each court had its own unique terrain. While I admire that the makers focused more on the story, I wish just a little more time had been spent on more of the surroundings.
Parents, aside from some drama and thematic moments (and the standard that a character loses a parent in a family film), the film is a pretty standard PG kids flick.
The film is marketed (rightly so) as from the makers of the Spider-Verse films and KPop Demon Hunters. It doesn’t seem like this will be as remembered and revered as those films, but the lessons taught here (while used in countless other films) are as vital for any generation of youngsters. It reminds me of the late great Jesse Jackson, who once went on Sesame Street to tell a group of kids (not to mention all watching on screen) to chant three simple words: “I am somebody.”
Overall:
Nothing else to say 