Before I get underway, let me explain my deliberately ambiguous title: I wanted to get at the idea that films are intangible - they are something abstract that we consume, yet - it is the tangible elements, the merchandise and the physical experiences we associate with a film, which adds to the width - that is, the intangible experience. Perhaps I didn't quite clear up what I meant, but join me anyways. The below emerged from an intention to engage with a prompt from CineTV's Twitter prompt regarding a film to share with kids, however, it transitioned into something else.
You know, I don't mind when young people call me old. It was a different time in the 1990s compared to now, and I wouldn't swap places with a 14 year old for no money. You see, I grew up during a time of family TV, playing outside, no internet - and I can't help but think that in today's context, that was a privilege.
If for no other reason, than to look back with nostalgia on films like Space Jam. To understand this film, I think I need to introduce a term, 'Magical Realism'.
Obviously, I didn't know what this meant as a 9 year old, but the premise behind it caught me in a very powerful way. Simply, it is the blending of the real world and fantasy - in this case, the cartoon element. How could it be, that the cartoon Bugs Bunny and the other Looney Toons could exist in the exact same film, the same space, as the physical person, Michael Jordan? (I didn't know about Who Framed Roger Rabbit - perhaps Jessica Rabbit was not 'family viewing' for a young man, not yet 10. As a tangent, this film came out 8 years before Space Jam)
The power of this idea (the equality of a cartoon with a real person) was evident from the film poster - offering equal billing to Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan.
And, this equality continues into the film - Michael Jordan in this shot looks down over Bugs Bunny - he is meant to be in a position of power, yet, Bugs Bunny's body language and facial features looks back over his shoulder, indifferent to the towering Jordan. If this film was grounded in a realistic setting, I think we can be certain this would not be the case - who, indeed, call stand up to the greatest basketballer of all time?
Indeed, Jordan comes down to the levels of the toons:
But before we go any further, let's re-visit the plot:
- A greedy theme park owner wants the Looney Toons for a new attraction, he sends a group of alien figures to kidnap them.
- Bugs Bunny and friends devise an agreement, that they will enter a competition with the little aliens; if Bugs and friends win, they don't have to be kidnapped!
- Bugs decides to take advantage of the little alien's height, and offers a basketball game (have a look how tiny in the image below).
- The aliens, in turn, steal the talents of the best basketballers in the world, becoming 'The Monsters'.
- Bugs recruits Michael Jordan to play on the team of the Toons, their last hope of escaping a fate in a cage in a themepark.
- It's a no brainer to guess the ending, Michael Jordan helps them win the day. Happy ever after ensues.
And not so little any more. This shot is from the point of view of the toons. They are clearly meant to be intimidated, and this sets in motion the sequence of events where fear and panic give rise to heroism in the face of unlikely victory.
But there's more to this film, than simply be a happy favourite - a tense climax, and the right resolution.
Accompanying the film's release, was the release of a series of tokens, which in Australia, we called them 'Tazos' - Did you have these in your country? The film hyped the tazos, the tazos hyped the film - and it meant the viewing experience took on a tangible quality. The best way I can explain these is, you would have these little discs and need to collect them all. You would put all the 'heads' up one way, and use the slammer to hit the stack, any tazo that turned over to 'tails' when it falls would become yours - and whoever had the most when they'd all turned over would win. Of course, this also damaged the Tazos, and you wanted a pristine set - so of course you needed multiples of each tazo, and display folders for your best sets.
These are worth a small fortune now; and to think, I had all the merchandise and full sets of the Tazo's and slammers! (And to think, they came wrapped in plastic in packs of chips!) If I remember correctly, despite being on the chubby side of things, as a young person, we didn't eat a lot of chips until it became necessary to have a packet a day. Again, adding an additional element to how the film was consumed (literally leading to consumption).
All this goes to show, films have power - and that power extends to the experiences in watching the film, and the associated events you have come to associate with it. Definately something kids may never understand in their TikTok, 60 second attention span, world.
Do you remember this film? Did your experience include other events or 'prizes' which made the film just a little bit wider, and ultimately, memorable.