| LIKE MIKE |
 2002 – USA
Director: John Schultz - Reviewed by Vickie
The above fact stuck with me more than much of the rest of this Cinderella-in-hightops story that is, despite being entirely predictable and see-it-coming-a-mile-away formulaic, nonetheless an entertaining tale for the younger set. Rapper Lil' Bow Wow stars as Calvin Cambridge, an orphan who dreams of being adopted by a Fresh Prince of Bel Air-esque family. When he's given a pair of hand-me-down sneakers that allegedly belonged to a famous basketball star and sees the shoes emblazoned with the initials "M.J.", he immediately surmises that the prized footwear was once sported by Michael Jordan. Through a series of colorful events, Calvin winds up—in the "magical" shoes—on the court with the Los Angeles Knights, first as a gimmick designed to attract fans to the otherwise empty seats and then as a bonafide player, once his skills (or those of the shoes) become apparent. Adding some drama to the proceedings is Calvin's friendship with his team's star player, Tracey Reynolds (Morris Chestnut), who reluctantly takes the young hoopster under his wing. I'll give you ten dollars right now if you can tell me where that storyline is headed. There are a couple of problems I have with the film, not the least of which is Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire) as Calvin's dopey best bud, Murph. Don't ask. The horrific parade of potential adoptive parents in one scene is another—who would ever consider these cardboard-cutout stereotypes (the ruthlessly stern military family, the dim-witted farm family, the sunshine and rainbows musical theater family, etc.) the prime candidates for raising anything, let alone a child? And, again, the plot is so painfully obvious that developments come as no surprise and the ending is clear almost from the opening credits. That said, there were things that I really liked about Like Mike. The performances (save for Mr. Lipnicki) were surprisingly entertaining. Lil' Bow Wow proves to be quite the little actor, and nails his role. Equally strong is Morris Chestnut as the on-court giant with a good heart. The story, which may be easy to figure out for adults, is well-suited to its target audience (the under-13 crowd), and its often playful plot points will keep kids laughing. And, as loathe as I am to admit it, despite everything... I did get a little choked up at the end. A little. I think the best thing about this whole project, though, is that it allows Lil' Bow Wow the chance to do something that his musical career does not. It gives him the opportunity to just be a kid and act his age. Instead of gyrating onscreen with women twice his age and trying to throw his "hardcore" street smarts in our face like he does in his videos, Bow Wow plays. He laughs. He goofs around. He even has a pillow fight. And he's incredibly likable doing it. I'll take that over the flashy clothes, the entourage of adults who forget he's a kid and the grown-up rap lyrics any day, and I suspect many of his young fans will also benefit from seeing him in such an unassuming, goofy and lighthearted way. |
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Before I begin, let me just say this about Like Mike: in perhaps the
most weirdly fitting and, at the same time, unsettlingly creepy casting
move of the year, the producers hired Crispin Glover—yes, Crispin
Glover—to play the slimeball who runs a group home for orphans.
Crispin Glover. Brilliant or frightening? Discuss.
