Kazaam (1996)
Average Rating: 2.8/10
Reviews Counted: 33
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 31
Crafted from a mix of genre clichés, Kazaam doesn't know what kind of film it wants to be, and Shaq's larger-than-life charisma is stifled by rote filmmaking and an unimaginative story.
Average Rating: 2.9/10
Critic Reviews: 13
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 13
Crafted from a mix of genre clichés, Kazaam doesn't know what kind of film it wants to be, and Shaq's larger-than-life charisma is stifled by rote filmmaking and an unimaginative story.
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Average Rating: 1.8/5
User Ratings: 39,906
Movie Info
Being a lone young boy in the 'hood" is dangerous and unpleasant. This is what Max (Francis Capra) experiences when he fools a gang of local toughs who cornered him at school. The gang finds out that the key he gave them is of no value in committing a robbery, and they chase him through the streets of his neighborhood, bent on revenge. He tries to escape by slipping into the open door of an old warehouse, but they follow him there, too. While running from them through aisles filled with all
Jul 17, 1996 Wide
Oct 8, 2002
Cast
-
Shaquille O'Neal
Kazaam -
Francis Capra
Maxwell "Max" Connor -
Ally Walker
Alice Connor -
Marshall Manesh (II)
Malik -
James Acheson
Nick -
Fawn Reed
Asia Moon -
John Costelloe
Travis
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All Critics (33) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (31)
In his Hollywood debut, Shaq more or less played himself as a coveted college center in William Friedkin's excellent Blue Chips. Kazaam is a compelling argument for keeping him on the court and as far away from a movie set as possible.
Top CriticAre you bored yet?
I'd call the film innocuous, except that Max's gangster dad is apparently an Italian-American and the movie's main villain is an Arab. Do kids really need these stereotypes reinforced? There's also more violence here than you might expect.
Kazaam never brings off the trick we most want to see: It fails to make the jolly, 7-foot-1 Shaq larger than life.
Too gritty, violent and downbeat for tykes, it's also a bit juvenile and fairy tale-like for teens and older auds.
As fairy tale, buddy comedy, family drama, thriller or rap revue, Kazaam is simply uninspired and unconvincing, and Mr. O'Neal, who can carry a basketball team, lacks the charisma to rescue this misguided effort.
Dismal.
It's hard to ignore the unpleasant implications of a scenario that involves a small white boy lording it over an African-American man twice his size.
Kazaam puts up a brick.
The plot is hamstrung by trite formulas, and there's too much violence and family tension for very young viewers. Shaquille O'Neal is likable as the title character, though.
Good ol' Shaq, the big happy galoot, makes you smile just by showing up. Because of him, Kazaam is a minimal kid-pleaser, but because the trailers made us dream of genie, we can't help being disappointed when we get a turbaned social worker.
Prime MST3K material, ripe for the ripping.
Horrible kids movie. The kid is annoying and there's no clever humor.
The visual trickery might delight children, but Kazaam will leave even them wishing for more of the genie's playful trickery to make up for lackluster comedy in the story.
Overall, a compelling argument for the $121-million Los Angeles Lakers center to keep his day job.
Kazaam is a genie movie that doesn't have a spark of magic.
Audience Reviews for Kazaam
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Kazaam: I am Kazaam!
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