Kazaam: Critic Reviews

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.

The story blares its lessons like a shameless after-school TV special.

The movie's producers could use a genie of their own. Surely, if granted three wishes, they could have produced a better film.

As for Shaquille O'Neal, given his own three wishes the next time, he should go for a script, a director and an interesting character.

Too gritty, violent and downbeat for tykes, it's also a bit juvenile and fairy tale-like for teens and older auds.

This is as witless as movies come -- an unamusing, moronic blend of horrible acting and inept screenwriting.

The gloomy psychology detracts from the film's magic elements.

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.

This is a dull, meritless movie that is bafflingly labeled a comedy.

Only Shaquille O'Neal works at his part, the rest of the cast barely work up a sweat.

The movie is decidedly old-fashioned, aiming to send kids and their parents out of the theater feeling good about themselves.

It's full of special effects that are big on smoke and noise, but short on logic and payoff. Scenes are sloppily edited, as if to imply that lower standards can acceptably be palmed off on kiddie audiences.

Oh well, at least NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal can still tell people he made his big-screen debut in Blue Chips.

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.

One thing is for certain: When a genie movie doesn't come up with satisfying wishes, it's a sure sign it's not really interested in genies but in putting a seven-foot basketball player in a funny outfit.