IMDb user comments for
Like Mike (2002)

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61 comments in total

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5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
A good, clean movie that's fun for kids of all ages., 3 July 2002
Author: paul_supercala from Dallas, TX

Like just about every other recent pop star before him, Lil' Bow Wow has landed the starring role in a major motion picture. Unlike the rest of them, he has managed to carry a good, clean family film. There's nothing too offensive here and kids of all ages (at least from the test screening) seemed to eat it up. While it's not terribly original (see "Rookie of the Year"), it's not trying to re-invent kids' movies, it's just trying to entertain in a fun, safe way, which it does.

Bow (Mr. Wow?) has enough boyish charm and enough charisma to show what could be a promising acting career in addition to his duties as a rapper. Morris Chestnut ("The Brothers") does well as an unwilling mentor who becomes a father figure to the orphaned boy. Crispin Glover is pretty creepy as the greedy "caretaker" of the boy, and Robert Forester and Eugune Levy both have humorous bit parts. Funny cameos by famous basketball players with obviously little acting skills give it an authentic feel.

While this probably won't do too well with critics, that's not who it was made for. The target audience is young kids and it will work for them. Parents won't have to worry about anything objective, except a questionable scene where Bow climbs an electrical wire in a rainstorm to recover his shoes. It's entertaining for kids and passable for adults taking their children. If this sounds good to you, you'll probably like it. If not, it wasn't made for you anyway.

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5 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
Keep the film in perspective, 15 December 2002

Author: grovercg from Cincinnati, Ohio

I just finished watching "Like Mike" with my 7 year old son and he loved it. On a scale from 1-10 I gave it an 8. I must admit I was partial on the vote because it reflected my son's enjoyment. I think some should remember that this was a kid's movie and shouldn't take it so seriously. I enjoyed the flow and even though it was obviously very predictable let's not forget the target audience for this film. "Like Mike" was enjoyable and warm and perfect for your FAMILY film night, as it was intended in the first place.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Snoop's Little Bro does well, 18 December 2002

Author: chrizoic01 (chrizoic01@aol.com) from huber heights

Extremely funny, lighthearted kids romp with a positive message and enduring theme. Was pleased seeing a young rapper placed in a non-stereotypical role that valued family and teamwork themes. The basketball player "big brother" Morris Chestnut worked well as a trouble gifted basketball player who reluctantly takes Bow Wow under his wings and albeit predictable softens up in his parental role with the youngster. The scene where they paint geometry lessons on the side of his mansion was hilarious and keep up the importance of school! Kids do the darnest things and I can see a youngster after a pair of magical shoes clinging to a tree in a thunderstorm. Okay, as a parent thats dangerous and would not want to see my youngster dangling from this tree BUT I do remember my own exploits as a child doing much of the same type of daring challenges. Kids will be kids so this gives excellent opportunity for the parent to talk with their child about keeping it safe! The NBA should be elated to have been giving a more good-guy image then their typical bad boy look. Very satisfied with this film portraying a positive image for my children to watch. Go Ohio! :)

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3 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A great film for the family, 16 July 2002

Author: Jonathan Marin (Npg816Marin88@AOL.com) from Bronx, NY

I actually saw Like Mike the same day I saw the horrible Men in Black 2. Like Mike was really good. I feel this movie deserves more press than that garbage Men in Black 2. Lil Bow Wow actually suprised me with his acting. He was funny and sometimes dramatic. I really felt the character bond between Calvin (Lil Bow Wow) and his friend Murph (Jonathan Lipnicki). It was a cute film and can be great for the family. Parents take your kid to see Like Mike. I give it a perfect 10.

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Like Mike 9/10, 14 April 2008

Author: robbie_ward32 from Canada

Fourteen-year-old orphan Calvin Coolidge (Lil Bow Wow) dreams of one day being a famous professional basketball player. But his diminutive stature and limited ability make his goal a far-off fantasy. Or is it? When Calvin dons a pair of old sneakers, with the faded initials "M.J." inscribed inside, he displays amazing hoop skills, and leads a struggling NBA team to victory. When i heard the reviews i refused to go to see this movie. After it was over i changed my mind about what i thought earlier this movie was great. A clean good movie for kids and adults.My advice:Please go see this you and your family will like it. Like Mike 9/10

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like mike.. a story about sneakers, basketball, and having a family!, 9 July 2006

Author: oteddybearoo

i watched "like mike" yesterday night and it was a great movie to watch with your family,, so i gave my vote as 10 out of 10. it seems at first, just a ordinary kid's movie, because of the sneaker thing. so i thought it was kinda boring and ordinary,but it becomes better as the movie goes on. ah i felt so touched by "tracey Reynold -morris chestnut" adopting "calvin Cambridge - bow wow" as his son I LOVE THIS MOVIE... and if you have a small kid in your family, rent a DVD and watch it...i bet the kid will love it... even i love it even though I'm not really a young child! lol..........................................................

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1 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Magical Nikes OK with me, 14 May 2007

Author: view_and_review from California

Like Mike was one of those fun family movies. I never had high expectations of the movie going in and subsequently I was pleasantly surprised. It is no masterpiece, but it is definitely a worthwhile-piece. Bow-Wow was decent as was the script. The movie held an even keel throughout, never getting too dull, but also never having any real riotous moments. Obviously the movie was a bit of a fantasy with a boy finding mystical shoes that gave him the skills of Michael Jordan; but hey, that is what made the movie as good as it was. I like the idea of using a kid as opposed to an adult so as to make the movie more entertaining. In fact, it reminds me of a story I wrote for a sixth grade project. All-in-all, a good movie, certainly better than average.

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2 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Not Bad For Its Type, 19 July 2002

Author: Jacob Rosen (bix171@comcast.net) from Buffalo Grove IL

An unusually strong supporting cast (including Crispin Glover, Robert Forster, Eugene Levy and Anne Meara) enlivens this simple family comedy built around the appealing young actor Lil' Bow Wow. He plays an orphan who, upon finding a magical pair of sneakers, becomes an NBA superstar and in the process befriends another player (Morris Chestnut) with his own family problems. Bow Wow will have an appeal to children of various ages because his own age seems indeterminate; he can act like a teenager (managing various relationships in the orphanage, rallying his teammates) or a pre-teen (gorging himself on so much food he gets sick, saying his prayers at bedtime); and his winning smile makes him non-threatening to adults. There's absolutely nothing that isn't predictable here and the film itself culls themes and sequences from other family films such as `Home Alone' and `E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial'. There's also nothing objectionable either: it's barely above the level of a Disney Channel movie so kids will gobble it up, which isn't a bad thing. The NBA had a hand in making the film in an obvious attempt to improve its bad boy image, and naturally most of the real players come off as kindly, caring and ready to perform good works. (Fortunately, there are exceptions: Allen Iverson doesn't play cute and Gary Payton treats Bow Wow as an equal on the court, making him pay.) Not bad for its genre--that supporting cast definitely helps, especially the always-welcome Glover and Levy--but hardly memorable.

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0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
I really enjoyed this movie., 22 April 2005

Author: horsewize1 from United States

I watched this movie and thought it was great. I have two younger sisters, and nowadays I cannot find a good movie that I enjoy, and that is appropriate for my 10 year old sister. This was a very good movie, very clean and enjoyable. Other than the fact that Bow climbs an electric wire in the rain, and that the shoes were magic, the storyline was just enough realistic so that kids can see that life isn't perfect for everyone. Other people have problems too. And there were a surprising twist of events. All in all, I think this was a great show. I really appreciate finding a movie that I don't have to worry about my sisters, and that my parents feel okay with us watching. Thank you!

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0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
I've watched this movie several times already, 26 February 2005

Author: hellokitty_girl from Los Angeles

just had to put in my 2 cents because of all the old and poor reviews. I'm not ashamed, but I've watched this movie several times already this past month!! granted, I caught it in bits and pieces at first. but ultimately this is a charming fantasy movie. who cares if Michael Jordan is never mentioned in name or makes an appearance?! at the risk of losing all credibility, I also thought "Eddie" starring Whoopi Goldberg was another great fantasy sports movie.

anyhow, the Morris Chestnut character reminded me of the LL Cool J character in "Deliver Us From Eva." very likable. Crispin Glover plays his usual role. Brenda Song is cute, and hope that bigger better things happen for her. Jonathan Lipnicki is getting more annoying to watch, I almost wish he'd just quickly grow up and become another child actor failing to make it as an adult. sorry that sounds so mean ;-) I don't know any of his music, but Bow Wow is a great natural actor, and I can't wait to see his upcoming movies.

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