SPACE JAM 2 A NEW LEGACY

It is Game 2 of the Space Jam movie franchise with basketball superstar Lebron James now leading a team of Looney Tunes characters in a sequel to the 1996 pop culture beloved film which starred NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and Bug Bunny. While the original movie had the Tune Squad playing against monstrous aliens in a game of basketball to avoid Bugs Bunny and his friends being abducted to be used as attractions for an outer space theme park, the new movie has the Tune Squad helping Lebron James and his son Dom escape from being held hostage in a TRON-esque scenario within the Warner Bros computer network. A rouge artificial intelligence (AI) program known as Al-G Rhythm wants to control the basketball player's digital likeness for use in the company's entertainment properties. This time around, the basketball match will determine is Lebron and Dom win their freedom back or will they be trapped forever as digital entities inside computer servers under the control of Al-G Rhythm.

Space Jam: A New Legacy arrives July 16 at movie theaters and on HBO Max. I was geeked to be able to participate in a round table discussion with actor Don Cheadle, who plays the role of the out of control algorithm Al-G Rhythm that serves as the film's main antagonist, and some of the best dad bloggers in cyber space during Space Jam 2's publicity press junket. We delved into dad tips revolving around themes from the movie and discussed insights about the film:

The major dynamic of the film revolves around Lebron James pushing his 12 year old son towards following in his footsteps as a pro basketball player while the boy is more interested in pursuing a career as a computer programmer. This conflict comes to a breaking point when the family has to decide whether Dom is going to attend an important basketball training camp or a prestigious coding and video game development educational clinic. This father-son dynamic contributes to the duo being sucked into a digital universe filled with Warner Bros characters ranging from Harry Potter to Scooby Doo as part of an Al-G Rhythm scheme.

I asked Don Cheadle during the movie's press junket what his dad tips were for dealing with real world father-son conflicts like the scenario in the movie. Here is what he had to say:

In Space Jam: A New Legacy it is Al-G Rhythm vs King James in a looney b-ball match that is a fun family movie night flick. Space Jam 2 is rated PG for language and cartoon violence. For more information about the film go to spacejam.com. 

THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES

Trying to repair a father-daughter relationship that has been damaged by teenage angst, Rick Mitchell has his whole family embark on a cross-country roadtrip to drop her off at college in what could possibly be their last trip together. Rick hopes to bond with Katie by teaching her how to drive a stick shift car, visiting roadside attractions and engaging in sing-alongs to their favorite tunes. How was he to know their family time together would be interrupted by a robot apocalypse ... now it is up to the Mitchell family to save the world from these machines!

I had the chance to view an advance screening of THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES prior to its official release date with my twelve year old son. He laughed throughout the movie at the hijinks of the Mitchell family and their funny pug Monchi as they tackle the threat to eliminate humanity from the planet created by tech that has come to life. This school has a middle school vibe that makes it perfect for all ages of a family to enjoy this flick together for a fun movie night.

While enjoying the humor of the movie, I also appreciated the relationship dynamic between Rick and Katie that is at the center of the film's plot. I've been finding myself facing similar circumstances with my own daughter as she grows up and felt a kinship with the dad in this movie. This is a movie that a lot of dads will be able to relate to and enjoy.

As I watched the movie it seemed to me this was the first original movie we've streamed at home since the pandemic that really had a theatrical quality feel to the experience of viewing it. Turns out that THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES was originally slated to be released by Sony Pictures Animation (the movie studio that produced Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Hotel Transylvania) last summer but due to COVID-19 theater shutdowns instead is debuting THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES through Netflix. 

THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES, scripted and directed by Michael Rianda (who also voices the little brother in the film) is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America [MPAA]. The animated comedy features the vocal talents of a cast that includes Danny McBride (Rick Mitchell), Abbi Jacobson (Katie Mitchell), Maya Rudolph (Linda Mitchell), and Beck Bennett as the robots. Netflix subscribers can begin streaming THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES on April 30, 2021.

In addition to providing an advance showing of the movie, it is appreciated that Netflix invited ageekdaddy.com to participate in the film's press junket. This dad blogger was able to get some behind the scenes details about making the film plus learn more about some of the cast and crew including Michael Rianda, Beck Bennett, Maya Rudolph and Abbi Jacobson. Rianda discussed how some of the scenes from the movie were based on his own childhood, Bennett addressed improvising on the set, Rudolph addressed the role her character as the mom played in the father-daughter centric plot, and Jacobson reflected on how she personally could relate to both Katie and Rick in interview sessions with me. It was a really interesting experience to have some one-on-one time getting to know the faces behind the animations.

Check out the video of my THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES Press Junket interviews:

As well as addressing a fairly common family conflict of parents wanting to hold onto their children's youth and those kids wanting to grow up as quickly as they can that many viewers young and old alike can probably relate to, I know I can, THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES delves into the concept of as much as technology connects people it also disconnects relationships. It is full of laughs but also brings up some complex societal issues through sarcasm and physical comedy portrayed in a cartoonish manner to get people thinking about these topics without putting a damper on their enjoyment of this family-friendly comedy.

THE MITCHELLS VS THE MACHINES earns a Geek Daddy nod of approval because it was a thoroughly enjoyable movie to watch from end to end. When it comes down to it movies are supposed to be providing a good time and my middle school aged son and I both really liked this film for just that reason. It had an interesting sci fi premise, featured great humorous moments, and had characters that we became invested in hoping for a happy ending. It actually is one of the best animated films I've seen in awhile and it is very much worth spending a family movie night watching it. 

THE MAIN EVENT PRESS JUNKET

Almost every boy I know dreams of someday getting the chance to jump in a wrestling ring and do a smackdown on an opponent like WWE superstars Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and John Cena. For one boy that dream becomes a reality in the new original Netflix movie THE MAIN EVENT. The movie focusses on an eleven year old boy who obtains super powers and utilizes them to protect his classmates from school bullies while also attempting to become the youngest person to join the WWE wrestling circuit.

THE MAIN EVENT debuts on Netflix beginning Friday, April 10, 2020 but ageekdaddy.com was invited to view an advance screening of the movie as well as have my eleven year old son and this dad blogger be part of an exclusive group of family bloggers to participate in an online press junket with Seth Carr and Tichina Arnold who star in the film.  During this Q & A session my son asks if there was any inspiration or history behind the wrestling mask that transforms Carr's character into an alter ego known as Kid Chaos and I make some references to the big wrestling match finale in THE MAIN EVENT. Here is a snippet from our conversation:



THE MAIN EVENT revolves around 11-year-old Leo Thompson (Seth Carr) discovering a magical wrestling mask that grants him super strength. Not only does he use his new found powers to tackle some bullies who are harassing him but to enter a WWE competition. With the support of his grandmother (Tichina Arnold), Leo will do whatever it takes to achieve his dream of becoming a WWE Superstar. Can one kid win it all, in the face of epic challengers in the ring?



At only 12 years old Seth Carr already has built himself an impressive acting resume. He stood in for Michael B. Johnson playing a young Killmonger in the hit movie BLACK PANTHER as well as stars in Nickelodeon's hit show KNIGHT SQUAD and Amazon's BOSCH. This followed his first acting gig appearing on DAYS OF OUR LIVES beginning at the age of 5. Other television appearances have included roles on CODE BLACK, BROOKLYN 99 and HOT IN CLEVELAND. He's also been in more than 30 TV commercials!

Tichina Arnold also has a nice acting resume. She's has had roles in MARTIN, WILD HOGS, HAPPILY DIVORCED, SURVIVORS REMORSE, EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS, and the current CBS primetime sitcom THE NEIGHBORHOOD. Intrigued by my references to her getting in the wrestling ring and doing a "booty move" during THE MAIN EVENT? You'll have to watch the movie when it premieres on Netflix to see what I'm talking about. But you can watch the whole chat session from our THE MAIN EVENT press junket right now:



THE MAIN EVENT was produced in partnership with the WWE to help provide a family friendly aspect to the wrestling brand. It scores a takedown in achieving that goal! The movie, which also features WWE personalities including Kofi Kingston, The Miz and Sheamus, is a movie that kids and parents can enjoy together.

My son was jumping out of his chair rooting on Kid Chaos in the wrestling scenes and I found myself up on my feet cheering too. With a lot of families homebound right now this is a movie that parents can appreciate has kid-appropriate content that is also very entertaining to watch. It has earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval!

THE MAIN EVENT will be showing exclusively on Netflix beginning on April 10, 2020.