Kazaam
Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: April 17, 1996 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
24
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
0
Mixed:
5
Negative:
9
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
50
San Francisco ExaminerDavid Armstrong
The movie is decidedly old-fashioned, aiming to send kids and their parents out of the theater feeling good about themselves. Read full review
50
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
Pure wish-fulfillment for Shaq-watchers who can't get enough of their 7-foot-1 basketball hero. [17 July 1996, p. 9D]
40
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not credited)
It's probably just passable for children, but adolescents won't sit still for this bland mixture of mediocre jokes and soft-core action. Read full review
40
VarietyGodfrey Cheshire
With its uneven mix of comedy, melodrama and action, pic will need all the help Shaq's name and a rap soundtrack can provide. Read full review
40
Washington PostEsther Iverem
Alas, the movie's producers could use a genie of their own. Surely, if granted three wishes, they could have produced a better film. Read full review
38
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
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. Read full review
38
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
Is Kazaam racist? In effect, yes. But it'sracism linked to bad marketing: You can't really mix a black-pride rap film with a revamped version of "Free Willie" and expect them to magically jibe. Read full review
33
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
It takes the movie all of 15 minutes to descend into sub-Spielbergian banalities about poor Max's search for his absentee dad. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesJack Mathews
The odd truth is that the film's novice star is better than the material. Read full review
30
The New York TimesLawrence Van Gelder
Memo to Shaquille O'Neal: Don't give up your night job. Read full review
25
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
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. Read full review
25
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
This is as witless as movies come -- an unamusing, moronic blend of horrible acting and inept screenwriting. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
Original enough to come up with new ways to go wrong. For one, the film is a blatant showcase to promote O'Neal as a rap artist. Read full review
0
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
It's full of special effects that are big on smoke and noise, but short on logic and payoff. Read full review
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