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Lil Bow Wow, Morris Chestnut, Jonathan Lipnicki, Robert Forster, Crispin Glover ... see more see more... , Eugene Levy , Brenda Song , Jesse Plemons , Julius Charles Ritter , Anne Meara , Pat Croce , Michael Finley , Lethon Flowers III , Steve Francis , Allen Iverson , Jason Kidd , Tracy McGrady , Alonzo Mourning , Steve Nash , Dirk Nowitzki , Gary Payton , Jason Richardson , David Robinson , Takeo Spikes , Reggie Theus , John Robert Thompson , Rasheed Wallace , Gerald Wallis , Chris Webber , Vanessa A. Williams , Kevin Garnett

Pint-size rap music star Lil Bow Wow shows that he can play ball as well as he raps in this youth-oriented comedy about a young boy whose dream comes true in an unexpected way. Calvin Cambridge (Lil B... read more read more...ow Wow) is a 14-year-old boy, who, since the death of his parents, has been living in an orphanage run by the unpleasantly eccentric Stan Bittleman (Crispin Glover). While the tough but caring Sister Theresa (Anne Meara) tries to encourage the kids, Calvin knows that he and most of the other kids his age are poor prospects for adoption. Calvin loves basketball and idolizes Michael Jordan, but he's too short to be much of a challenge to the older kids when shooting hoop at the playground. One day, Calvin discovers a pair of old basketball sneakers with the initials "MJ" written on the inside. Calvin is convinced they once belonged to Michael Jordan, but he can hardly believe what happens when he puts them on -- suddenly he's able to make superhuman jump shots and dunks just like a miniature version of Air Jordan himself. Calvin's newly developed talent on the court comes to the attention of Frank Bernard (Eugene Levy), the manager of the Los Angeles Knights, an NBA team having a humiliating season. Bernard brings Calvin to the team as a novelty item, but with the help of Coach Wagner (Robert Forster) and the new kid's can-do attitude, the Knights start to climb out of the cellar and look like possible season champs. However, Tracey Reynolds (Morris Chestnut), who used to be the team's star player, isn't happy to have his thunder stolen by a 14-year-old boy -- especially when he's made Calvin's roommate and de-facto guardian on the road. Like Mike also features cameo appearances by a number of pro basketball stars, including Allen Iverson, Chris Webber, and Jason Kidd. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

54% liked it

65,503 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

97 critics

PG, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: John Schultz

Release Date: July 3, 2002

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DVD Release Date: December 10, 2002

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Stats: 2,260 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,260)

  • CreedsDelight
    October 27, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Full review sometime between now and 2050.
  • TomBowler
    October 3, 2011
    TomBowler
    Fun if a little unfocussed. Full review later.
  • riverdale237
    July 7, 2011
    riverdale237
    You know, when a company decides to make a movie about a kid playing professional basketball, they're basically saying "We're desperate!" This movie is ridiculous, it's unoriginal, it's badly acted. Basically, it's one of the worst sports movie of all time, and this is coming fro... read morem a person who loved "The Fan" and "Mr. 3000".

    The worst part about the movie might be the script. It sounds like it was written by 2002, rap obsessed 5th graders. It was laughable AT BEST.

    Also, the acting wasn't very good. Even Jonathan Lipnicki and Eugene Levy from "American Pie" weren't very good. But I have to say that the lowlight must go to Lil Bow wow. It's clear the kid strongly believes he's "gangster". NOTE: I have yet to see "Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift", so he might have gotten better.

    The whole story is extremely predictable. Kid goes to orphanage, kid learns how to play basketball, kid get's adopted by basketball player: THE END! Never before have I seen such appaling lack of creativity.

    I will admit there is one thing this movie is really good at: Stealing pbits and pieces from great sports movies to make their own. Basically, this is "Angels in the Outfield" meets "Rookie of the Year" meets "The Sandlot". Sandlot and Angels are good on their own, but NOT good mixed together.

    Face it directors. You guys lack the creativity to get even a B in ART CLASS!
  • jennifxu
    April 30, 2011
    jennifxu
    Lawls Lil Bow Wow.
  • Chiefilms
    March 4, 2010
    Chiefilms
    A really bad movie that get's two courtesy stars due to hilarious NBA cameos, mainly one by Dirk Nowitzki and another by Gary Payton. This movie is actually depressing, orphanage? Jonathan Lipnicki is so small and pitiful looking and clearly cannot refrain from making odd mouth... read more gestures when he talks. I want to feel sorry for the orphans in the movie but their acting is as bad as the Charlotte Bobcats in a playoff hunt.
  • fb733768972
    January 13, 2010
    fb733768972
    I found this film very likable for my taste!
  • stormyweather980
    September 14, 2009
    stormyweather980
    Cheesy, doesn't pay homage to the greatest athlete of all time and isn't "like mike" at all.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    May 31, 2009
    LoughnerWasLucid
    i hate to admit it but this is a decent movie.
  • fb619846742
    September 16, 2007
    fb619846742
    Decent kids movie, Crispin Glover as the bad guy was a shrewd move.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    September 14, 2007
    FiLmCrAzY
    saw bits of it

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Critic Reviews

Ted Shen
March 25, 2008
Ted Shen, Chicago Reader

[A] summer-weight but winsome basketball fantasy. Full Review

Christy Lemire
March 25, 2008
Christy Lemire, Associated Press

Director John Schultz's movie is as lame and predictable as you'd imagine, and it's chock full of orphanage cliches. Full Review

Mark Holcomb
July 11, 2002
Mark Holcomb, Village Voice

A valueless kiddie paean to pro basketball underwritten by the NBA. Full Review

Robert Koehler
July 11, 2002
Robert Koehler, Variety

As with too many studio pics, plot mechanics get in the way of what should be the lighter-than-air adventure. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
July 11, 2002
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Its sense of harmless, inoffensive wish fulfillment, along with its celebration of fatherhood ... is genuinely touching, if overly familiar and formulaic. Full Review

Liam Lacey
July 11, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

It's not so much a movie as a joint promotion for the National Basketball Association and teenaged rap and adolescent poster-boy Lil' Bow Wow. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
July 10, 2002
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

A featherweight kids' movie set against a heavily sponsored official NBA backdrop, John Schultz's Like Mike is superhero fantasy for sport-minded youngsters and the adults they watch TV with. Full Review

Richard Roeper
July 10, 2002
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

This is a lot of fun and Lil' Bow Wow, now calling himself Bow Wow, is very charming. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
July 3, 2002
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Slick piece of cross-promotion. Full Review

Mike Clark
July 3, 2002
Mike Clark, USA Today

Pleasant but not more than recycled jock piffle. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Like Mike Trivia

  • Which of these movies did Eddie Murphy NOT appear in?  Answer »
  • What is the main sport in "Like Mike"???  Answer »
  • In what movie does a little boy by the name of calvin finds a pair of shoes that makes him play like a famous basketball player m.j?  Answer »
  • name the hip-hop sensation, who played the orphan Calvin Cambridge in the movie "like mike"  Answer »
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