24
Metascore
14 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 50San Francisco ExaminerSan Francisco ExaminerThe movie is decidedly old-fashioned, aiming to send kids and their parents out of the theater feeling good about themselves.
- 38Chicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertChicago Sun-TimesRoger EbertAs for Shaquille O'Neal, given his own three wishes the next time, he should go for a script, a director and an interesting character.
- 38The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam LaceyThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam LaceyIs 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.
- 33Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanIt takes the movie all of 15 minutes to descend into sub-Spielbergian banalities about poor Max's search for his absentee dad.
- The odd truth is that the film's novice star is better than the material.
- 30The New York TimesLawrence Van GelderThe New York TimesLawrence Van GelderMemo to Shaquille O'Neal: Don't give up your night job.
- 25Christian Science MonitorDavid SterrittChristian Science MonitorDavid SterrittThe 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.
- 25ReelViewsJames BerardinelliReelViewsJames BerardinelliThis is as witless as movies come -- an unamusing, moronic blend of horrible acting and inept screenwriting.
- 25San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleOriginal 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.
- 0Austin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenAustin ChronicleMarjorie BaumgartenIt's full of special effects that are big on smoke and noise, but short on logic and payoff.