Space Jam: A New Legacy 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

Space Jam: A New Legacy 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Space Jam: an uninspired sequel?

Space Jam: A New Legacy is an underwhelming sequel to 1996's Space Jam. LeBron James is tasked with playing an epic basketball game alongside Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters when an artificial-intelligence program created by Warner Bros., Al G. Rhythm (Don Cheadle), decides to kidnap the basketball player and vortex him in to a cyber world. It is up to the superstar basketball player's son, Dom James (Cedric Joe), to save his dad and play the game.

Space Jam: A New Legacy is an over-stuffed product-placement nightmare. One of the worst things about the film is how it showcases so many other franchises and feature-films which make no sense within the story. WB even adds in adult-oriented films like A Clockwork Orange (with the characters often appearing in the sidelines). Then there's a bunch of others: The Matrix, Game of Thrones, and more.

The animation in the feature-film is a mixed-bag. The beginning half of Space Jam: A New Legacy has some decent animation in a more traditional style. The second half, introducing the CGI versions, was nightmarish at times. The CG Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters look awful. When it comes to production design, the effort by Akin McKenzie (When They See Us, Native Son) and Clint Wallace (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , Eternals) works well-enough but is never going to save the film.

A high-gloss steelbook release.

The cinematography by Salvatore Totino (Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Da Vinci Code ) is one of the few strengths of the production. Space Jam: A New Legacy looks expensive at times – and most of it falls on the cinematography. Totino did a solid job.

The screenplay by Juel Taylor (Creed II), Tony Rettenmaier (The Light Thief), Keenan Coogler (of Fruitvale Station), Terence Nance (Random Acts of Flyness), Jesse Gordon (Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Celeste Ballard (Wrecked) is a mess. How many writers does it take to tell a good story? Only one. Warner Bros. made the mistake of having too many cooks in the kitchen and the script is as uninspired as one might imagine.

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip, Undercover Brother), Space Jam: A New Legacy is a decent directorial effort – but it would be miles better with a better script, less product placement, and more creativity. Lee made a competent sequel but the lack of imagination hurts. Space Jam is far superior.

For more information on Space Jam: A New Legacy and an alternate take, please refer to the review by my colleague Randy Miller III.

Space Jam: A New Legacy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 4K UHD from Warner Bros., Space Jam: A New Legacy is presented in upscaled 2160p in the theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. For additional information on the presentation, please refer to the review by my colleague Randy Miller III.

Space Jam: A New Legacy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Dolby Atmos surround sound. For additional information on the audio quality, please refer to the review by my colleague Randy Miller III.

Space Jam: A New Legacy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The collectors edition steelbook is a gorgeous high-gloss release of the feature-film. The steelbook design isn't that inspiring. However, the design of the artwork matches the aesthetic given to Space Jam for its 4K steelbook release. The purple finish looks nice and the back art is complimentary.

For additional information on the bonus features, please refer to the review by my colleague Randy Miller III.

Space Jam: A New Legacy 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Space Jam: A New Legacy is trash. The filmmaking is uninspired. Bugs Bunny and Looney Tunes fans will want to watch the film regardless but the story is nowhere near as good as the original. On the bright side, the 4K UHD steelbook looks impressive and has a nice high gloss finish.