Blake Griffin Recaptures "Space Jam" In Ad Promoting Signature Jordan Sneaker

Clippers F Blake Griffin "spent a July afternoon filming a 'Space Jam'-inspired commercial for his latest sneaker," the Jordan Brand Super.Fly 4, which is "set to release this Saturday," according to Ben Golliver of SI.com. The "premise of the commercial -- named 'The Dunk to End All Dunks' -- is straightforward: Griffin must avoid peril by defeating Marvin the Martian, an original 'Space Jam' character, in a Slam Dunk Contest." While the concept "was simple, everything else about the shoot was pretty over the top." The commercial’s director is "none other than Jon Favreau." Hundreds of extras "lined up to watch the imaginary Dunk Contest from behind barriers that read 'Acme Crowd Control.'” At various points, the fans were "encouraged to react is if they were experiencing an earthquake." The spot opens with Griffin "shooting hoops on the Venice Beach courts alongside his gangly sidekick Dr. Drain." A gun-wielding Marvin "quickly appears and the contest begins, with Griffin falling behind early." Thankfully, Bugs Bunny "arrives to save the day, pulling up in the food truck to deliver the Super.Fly 4s that Griffin will need to prevail." Griffin’s winning dunk "sees him launch from the opposite foul line, to the moon, and back to Earth before throwing down a two-handed slam with so much force that it sends a shockwave through the crowd." Bugs Bunny then "finishes off Marvin by blasting him back into space" (SI.com, 8/4).

GLOBAL ADVENTURE: ROLLING STONE's Scott Rafferty wrote Nike "isn't messing around with this promotion." They have "created a page on their website to document Marvin's journey in finding the Super.Fly 4, starting at The Great Wall of China and landing him places like Paris and Las Vegas." Rafferty: "We can expect more shenanigans between Griffin and Marvin over the coming months" (ROLLINGSTONE.com, 8/4).