Too gritty, violent and downbeat for tykes, it's also a bit juvenile and fairy tale-like for teens and older auds.
Comment
03/26/09
Kazaam (1996)
4
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:24
Fresh:1
Rotten:23
Average Rating:2.5/10
Synopsis: When young Max bumps into an abandoned boom box, he's understandably shocked when it releases an extremely tall, Black genie named Kazaam, who grants the kid three wishes. At first, Max doesn't... [More]
Starring: Shaquille O'Neal, Francis Capra, Ally Walker, James Acheson
Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Reviews for Kazaam
Top CriticNo review available.
05/08/08
No review available.
01/14/05
Prime MST3K material, ripe for the ripping.
12/28/04
No review available.
08/04/03
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.
05/20/03
Top CriticNo review available.
07/30/02
No review available.
07/28/02
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.
06/05/02
The movie's producers could use a genie of their own. Surely, if granted three wishes, they could have produced a better film.
01/22/02
Top CriticThe gloomy psychology detracts from the film's magic elements.
02/14/01
Top CriticOverall, a compelling argument for the $121-million Los Angeles Lakers center to keep his day job.
01/01/00
The movie is decidedly old-fashioned, aiming to send kids and their parents out of the theater feeling good about themselves.
01/01/00
This is as witless as movies come -- an unamusing, moronic blend of horrible acting and inept screenwriting.
01/01/00
Oh well, at least NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal can still tell people he made his big-screen debut in Blue Chips.
01/01/00
Kazaam is a genie movie that doesn't have a spark of magic.
01/01/00
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.
01/01/00
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.
01/01/00
This is a dull, meritless movie that is bafflingly labeled a comedy.
01/01/00
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Fresh Links
Featured
Dressing Wonderland 
Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.
Wes Anderson on Fox
The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox
Win Glee DVDs
We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.
Win tickets to Cold Souls
Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser
Win the entire 007 collection
Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection
IGN RSS Feeds