Kazaam 1996

John Petrakis, Chicago Tribune: Are you bored yet? Read more

Jack Mathews, Los Angeles Times: The gloomy psychology detracts from the film's magic elements. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: 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. Read more

Desmond Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer: 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. Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: Read more

Lawrence Van Gelder, New York Times: 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. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Kazaam never brings off the trick we most want to see: It fails to make the jolly, 7-foot-1 Shaq larger than life. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: This is as witless as movies come -- an unamusing, moronic blend of horrible acting and inept screenwriting. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: 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 more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: 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. Read more

Godfrey Cheshire, Variety: Too gritty, violent and downbeat for tykes, it's also a bit juvenile and fairy tale-like for teens and older auds. Read more

Esther Iverem, Washington Post: The movie's producers could use a genie of their own. Surely, if granted three wishes, they could have produced a better film. Read more