Space Jam: A New Legacy is stuffed full of characters - old and new. There’s a whole new roster of exciting Goons, and there are some hilarious live-action characters too, whether it’s nameless Warner Bros. executives or A-list stars playing themselves.
As movie crossovers are so huge in the current cinema landscape, the Space Jam sequel quite literally takes it to another level, with appearances from Rick and Morty and even Mad Max characters. But between Daffy Duck pathetically attempting to be Superman or Granny becoming The Matrix’s Neo, it’s still the classic Looney Tunes characters that get the most laughs.
Warner Bros. Executive
It was a bit of a strange decision for Warner Bros. to allow the movie to paint their execs in such a bad light, as Sarah Silverman plays a stereotypically soulless and creatively bankrupt executive for the studio.
But it’s done so well, for as much as the movie is commercial for Warner Bros., it was great to watch the studio poke fun at itself for a few minutes. Silverman’s naturally sarcastic and awkward comedic persona was perfectly balanced with how overly-friendly but backstabbing studio execs are allegedly perceived to be.
Foghorn Leghorn
It never gets old listening to Foghorn Leghorn’s iconic “I say, I say…” phrase in his jolly southern accent, and thankfully, fans get to hear so many times throughout A New Legacy. But Foghorn has been shoe-horned into another franchise in the movie too.
As A New Legacy is essentially a giant commercial for HBO Max, so many other Warner Bros. properties have been written into the movie, and one of them is Game of Thrones. It’s revealed that Foghorn Leghorn has been living in the Game of Thrones world, and he is hilariously found riding a dragon and screaming, “Winter is coming!”
Michael B. Jordan
Though there were several fan theories on the Space Jam 2 trailer that Michael Jordan would have a cameo, he, unfortunately, didn’t appear. However, it wasn’t the letdown it could have been, as it was played off surprisingly well.
When the Toons explain that they found Michael Jordan watching the game, a silhouette appears, only for that silhouette to end up being movie star Michael B. Jordan. It was probably the only time people have ever been disappointed to see the actor. The movie star didn’t have a major role and it was more like a prolonged cameo. But it was long enough to have a lasting impression on audiences, and his one scene was one of the funniest moments in the movie.
Bugs Bunny
Bugs Bunny has always been the leader of the pack when it comes to the Looney Tunes, and when fans meet him for the first time in A New Legacy, he’s up to his old tricks. He’s manipulating the reality of the Toon world and, for the first time ever, jumping around movie worlds.
But the best thing is, possibly even more than his chemistry with Michael Jordan in the first movie, Bugs and LeBron’s odd-couple-like relationship. And he has wonderfully bizarre reactions to anything that’s going on. However, though Bugs Bunny might be the best character in A New Legacy, and though he’s one of the funniest characters, there are others that a funnier.
Road Runner
Though there are so many scenes filled with not-so-subtle pop-culture references to other Warner Bros movies, Road Runner’s first appearance takes it a step further. As the character is living in the Mad Max world, he is found running alongside all of the fire-shooting, post-apocalyptic vehicles from Mad Max: Fury Road.
The sequence from the movie isn’t animated like The Matrix or Game of Thrones worlds are, but Road Runner is hysterically composited into the actual scene. The whole sequence is ludicrous, especially considering that Fury Road is an R-rated movie that most viewers of Space Jam: A New Legacy wouldn’t have even seen or heard of.
Granny
For a character who is so old, Granny is surprisingly limber and agile, but the jokes don’t begin and end on the court. Granny has some of the best cutaway jokes of the movie, as she’s even hilariously found drinking a martini during halftime.
During the recruitment scene when LeBron and Bugs are looking for teammates, she’s embodying Neo from The Matrix. The bullet-time gag might have been run into the ground at this point, and it might not be the most timely joke, but Granny performing a high-kick in slo-mo in leather attire and sunglasses was a more than welcome parody.
Al-G Rhythm
Though it doesn’t quite boast the roster of the first movie, fans were excited for A New Legacy based on the big names involved. The most experienced actor of them all in the new movie is Don Cheadle, best known for playing War Machine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his Academy Award-nominated performance in Hotel Rwanda.
But he’s also known for some brilliant comedic roles too, such as Basher in the Ocean’s series, and he brings that comedy to Al-G Rhythm. The character is so theatrical, and even when he isn’t talking about his over-the-top maniacal plan, he speaks more with his erratic body movements than the words he says. Between manipulating Dom and heckling LeBron from the sidelines, Al-G is the most entertaining live-action character.
Daffy Duck
Just like many of the Looney Tunes characters, Daffy Duck is useless, but perhaps more so than any of them as he is so clumsy. That’s why it's so funny when LeBron and Bugs find the character in Metropolis attempting to be Superman.
Daffy and Bugs get into an argument about whether or not he’s up to the task of stopping a train, all the while he is failing miserably. A New Legacy makes several pop references to DC characters on so many occasions, whether it’s LeBron as Mr. Freeze, or the live-action characters watching the game at the end. However, Daffy Duck’s portrayal of Superman is the best of them all.
Porky Pig
Although the rap battle in which Porky is battling with nobody did seem a little out of place, it was one of the most surprising and funniest scenes during the actual Basketball game.
Daffy Duck calls him Notorious P.I.G., which might just be the very best one-liner from not just the sequel, but the whole series. And as there are talks about a Space Jam 3 being about wrestling and starring Dwayne Johnson, Space Jam 4 should definitely be an 8 Mile-style rap battle movie. Who doesn’t want to see every Looney Toon throw down some bars like Porky Pig?