This deeply peculiar high concept is more or less kept upright by the sterling work of Wayne Knight, playing Jordan’s nerdy beta-assistant, and a laid-back cameo from Bill Murray, channelling some of his Caddyshack energy.

It you hate basketball, you'll hate Space Jam. If you don't, it's bubblegum the whole family should enjoy.

Here we have the reliance on special effects, the mixture of cheap moralising and confected mythology that passes for a plot, the triumph of merchandising over art.

Though hardly dramatically challenged, Jordan has a winning presence and even spoofs himself and his failed baseball experiment.