Orphans Calvin (Lil Bow Wow), Murph (Jonathan Lipnicki), and Reg Stevens (Brenda Song) are best friends. They are not good at basketball and get bullied by Ox (Jesse Plemons). Stan Bittleman (Crispin Glover) runs the orphanage and uses the kids to make money. A pair of shoes fall out of a donation box. It has the initials MJ. After getting electrified by a storm, Calvin becomes a great basketball player. The kids are fans of the failing LA Knights. Tracy Reynolds (Morris Chestnut) is the star of the team. Calvin is picked at halftime and humiliates Reynolds in an one-on-one contest. Team manager Frank Bernard (Eugene Levy) sees an opportunity to pump up attendance. Coach Wagner (Robert Forster) is not convinced.
There is something annoying about Lil Bow Wow. I hate to be mean about a little kid but he has an arrogance that doesn't make him look good. He's also not a good actor. I do like him with his friends. His persona as a brash baller does not engender sympathy. When he's at the orphanage with his friends, he's a much more likeable character and much more like a child. He's good there. The other annoying aspect is the LA Knights. This movie has plenty of NBA support from other teams and most significantly the players. I guess the LA Lakers are too good for this movie and the Clippers are too idiotic. The Knights are like a false note in a good song. All these great NBA stars on their home teams have to play against the Knights. It's a little sad. Also, where's Mike? It's a missed opportunity for him. Otherwise, this is a fine family film. It's simple and innocuous. It has its fun at times. It's nice.
There is something annoying about Lil Bow Wow. I hate to be mean about a little kid but he has an arrogance that doesn't make him look good. He's also not a good actor. I do like him with his friends. His persona as a brash baller does not engender sympathy. When he's at the orphanage with his friends, he's a much more likeable character and much more like a child. He's good there. The other annoying aspect is the LA Knights. This movie has plenty of NBA support from other teams and most significantly the players. I guess the LA Lakers are too good for this movie and the Clippers are too idiotic. The Knights are like a false note in a good song. All these great NBA stars on their home teams have to play against the Knights. It's a little sad. Also, where's Mike? It's a missed opportunity for him. Otherwise, this is a fine family film. It's simple and innocuous. It has its fun at times. It's nice.