Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Space Jam: A New Legacy review says despite LeBron James’ best efforts, the highlights are the cameos.

I will say this for Space Jam: A New Legacy—The best thing about it is the fun you’ll have spotting the characters from best loved Warner Bros properties, and properties you didn’t even know ever belonged to Warner Bros.

Notice how I used the words Warner Bros. twice in one sentence? That’s pretty much how the whole movie goes — it’s jam packed with the name or the logo of the venerable studio in almost every cut. Unapologetically commercial, don’t make the mistake of playing a drinking game, taking a shot every time the studio is mentioned, or you’ll wind up in an alcohol induced coma.

For the sequel, coming along 25 years after the original, we see LeBron James stepping into Michael Jordan’s Nikes, this time getting caught up in the Warner Bros. “Serververse,” run by an egomaniacal A.I. named Al G. Rhythm (Don Cheadle, who I’d never before seen falter).

James must wrangle the Looney Tunes crowd into a fine “tooned” team so they can beat a Goon Squad made up of digitally enhanced basketball greats, and free himself, his animated pals and his game creating son from the algorithm, known as Warner Bros. 3000.

You can’t help but root for James to be good in this, and, to be kind, lets just say no one can be a superstar at everything he endeavors. Oddly enough, James seems to become more believable when he becomes a cartoon. All hail to the talents of his voice acting coach, if not director Malcolm D. Lee, who actually has some excellent comedies under his belt, including The Best Man and Girl’s Trip.

Sadly, Space Jam: A New Legacy, will not be numbered among them. But, in an effort to enhance the viewing experience of those who can’t resist watching, I’ll give you a partial list of WB characters to seek out in the crown. You won’t want to sit through the almost two-hour duration twice just to spot them, so it’s good to know who and what’s coming.

Watch for characters from: Game of Thrones, The Matrix, Harry Potter, King Kong, the D.C. Universe, The Flintstones and The Jetsons,  The Mask, King Kong, Iron Giant, Mad Max: Fury Road, It, Austin Powers, Willy Wonka, Beetlejuice, A Clockwork Orange, and classics like The Wizard of Oz and Casablanca. There are more, but I’ll let you discover them for yourself.

Oh, and the Porky Pig rap is also a highlight. Style points for that. That’s all folks.

Rated PG

1 Hour 55 Minutes

If this Space Jam: A New Legacy tempts you to tune in, find it at a theater near you and on HBO Max.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Space Jam: A New Legacy review says despite LeBron James’ best efforts, the highlights are the cameos.