Space Jam: A New Legacy

Generations of basketball fans continue to argue whether Michael Jordan or LeBron James is the greatest player in history. However, in terms of which one made the better Space Jam movie, it’s no contest.

More crass than charming, James’ ill-conceived reboot of the innocuous 1996 hybrid hoops comedy is so overstuffed with self-promotion — both for its star and its studio — that you practically expect QR codes to pop up in the corner of the screen linking to co-branded merchandise or backlot tours.

Space Jam: A New Legacy copies the basic formula of the original film, which also showcased a superstar athlete near the height of his fame both on and off the court, acting alongside animated Looney Tunes characters after being transported to a parallel universe for a high-stakes game.

In this case, the concept has been updated to a contemporary landscape of athlete branding, catered to adolescent gamers with short-attention spans. Yet while the message about parents not pushing their children too hard is delivered with sledgehammer subtlety, any lessons about humility are sorely lacking.

“He’s more than an athlete. He’s a king,” declares the film’s villain (Don Cheadle), a vengeful algorithm residing in the Warner Bros. “Serververse,” where his idea for marketing LeBron through the existing properties of “the studio that brought you all the classics” is rejected.

The manipulative plan for revenge involves kidnapping LeBron and putting him on a ragtag team with Bugs Bunny and friends, collectively known as the Tune Squad.

Their opponents are led by LeBron’s impressionable youngest son, Dom, (Cedric Joe), who prefers coding to basketball against his father’s wishes. To stack the deck, the contest is staged according to Dom’s self-designed video game, rather than LeBron’s customary NBA rules.

Between the subpar acting and the awkward visual transitions, there are some occasional bits of clever slapstick, a few inspired sight gags, and some amusing pop-culture references.

Still, the relentless product placement comes without a hint of irony or self-deprecation. You almost feel sorry for the venerable Looney Tunes gang, which has been amped up to a 21st century level of hyperactivity.

Hardwood enthusiasts might appreciate cameos from players such as Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, Diana Taurasi, and more. The climactic game sequences are staged with some energy and excitement, but otherwise, the new Space Jam is a cinematic airball.

Rated PG, 115 minutes.