Like Mike (2002)
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57% of critics liked it
(97 reviews) -
54% of users liked it
(64,971 ratings)
Pint-size rap music star Lil Bow Wow shows that he can play ball as well as he raps in this youth-oriented comedy about a young boy whose dream comes true in an unexpected way. Calvin Cambridge (Lil Bow Wow) is a 14-year-old boy, who, since the death of his parents, has been living in an orphanage… More Pint-size rap music star Lil Bow Wow shows that he can play ball as well as he raps in this youth-oriented comedy about a young boy whose dream comes true in an unexpected way. Calvin Cambridge (Lil Bow Wow) is a 14-year-old boy, who, since the death of his parents, has been living in an orphanage run by the unpleasantly eccentric Stan Bittleman (Crispin Glover). While the tough but caring Sister Theresa (Anne Meara) tries to encourage the kids, Calvin knows that he and most of the other kids his age are poor prospects for adoption. Calvin loves basketball and idolizes Michael Jordan, but he's too short to be much of a challenge to the older kids when shooting hoop at the playground. One day, Calvin discovers a pair of old basketball sneakers with the initials "MJ" written on the inside. Calvin is convinced they once belonged to Michael Jordan, but he can hardly believe what happens when he puts them on -- suddenly he's able to make superhuman jump shots and dunks just like a miniature version of Air Jordan himself. Calvin's newly developed talent on the court comes to the attention of Frank Bernard (Eugene Levy), the manager of the Los Angeles Knights, an NBA team having a humiliating season. Bernard brings Calvin to the team as a novelty item, but with the help of Coach Wagner (Robert Forster) and the new kid's can-do attitude, the Knights start to climb out of the cellar and look like possible season champs. However, Tracey Reynolds (Morris Chestnut), who used to be the team's star player, isn't happy to have his thunder stolen by a 14-year-old boy -- especially when he's made Calvin's roommate and de-facto guardian on the road. Like Mike also features cameo appearances by a number of pro basketball stars, including Allen Iverson, Chris Webber, and Jason Kidd. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- PG, 1 hr. 39 min.
- Directed By
- John Schultz
- Written By
- Michael Elliott, Jordan Moffet
- Genres
- Comedy, Kids & Family
- In Theaters
- Jul 3, 2002 Wide
- On DVD
- Dec 10, 2002
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Critic Reviews
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Ted Shen, Chicago Reader
[A] summer-weight but winsome basketball fantasy.
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Christy Lemire, Associated Press
Director John Schultz's movie is as lame and predictable as you'd imagine, and it's chock full of orphanage cliches.
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Mark Holcomb, Village Voice
A valueless kiddie paean to pro basketball underwritten by the NBA.
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Robert Koehler, Variety
As with too many studio pics, plot mechanics get in the way of what should be the lighter-than-air adventure.
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Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
It's not so much a movie as a joint promotion for the National Basketball Association and teenaged rap and adolescent poster-boy Lil' Bow Wow.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Lil Bow Wowas Calvin Cambridge -
Morris Chestnutas Tracey Reynolds -
Jonathan Lipnicki
Photos
