"Space Jam" this week fell to second place in
preliminary box-office reports, earning $16.6M, according to
Dennis Moore in USA TODAY. The film has a two-week gross of
$48.6M (USA TODAY, 11/25). In Chicago, Irv Kupcinet writes
that Warner Bros. is "already planning another" live action
/animated film for Jordan with Bugs Bunny, tentatively
titled, "What's Up, Bugs?" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/24). In
TIME, Richard Corliss writes of "Space Jam": "The movie
could have been a gleaming showcase for cartoon wit.
Instead it's an 87-minute commercial peddling sainthood for
Michael Jordan" (TIME, 11/25 issue).
HAVE A MERRY, AIRY XMAS: In New York, James Bernstein
writes, "Want to know what's hot for this holiday season?
The long and short of it is Michael Jordan" (NEWSDAY,
11/24). In the N.Y. DAILY NEWS, Michael O'Regan: "Action
figures of Jordan and his Looney Tunes pals from the movie
'Space Jam' are expected to be such a tear away hit with
youngsters that parents had better start hitting those malls
and stores soon" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/24). Mother/publicist
Debbie Merson, on her 5-year-old son's affinity for "Space
Jam": "My son hasn't even seen 'Space Jam' yet, but when he
sees the toys and t-shirts, he goes crazy and shouts, 'I
want "Space Jam"! I want "Space Jam"!'" (Mara Mornell, N.Y.
POST, 11/24). But Greg Johnson notes in an L.A. TIMES
report the "strong opening" of "Space Jam"' is "no
guarantee" of retail success during the Holiday season:
"There's always the risk that some other toy will grab
youngsters' attention" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/24).
