Teenage rap sensation Lil Bow Wow makes his feature film debut in this “surefire heart-warmer” (Los Angeles Times) about an orphan boy named Calvin who lives out his dream of playing in the NBA—with a little help from a magical pair of sneakers! Soon after he laces up the mysterious high-tops, Calvin’s amazing basketball skills land him a spot on the Los Angeles Knights team. In addition to hitting 25-foot jumpers and throwing down rim-rattling slam dunks, the small superstar sets his sights on another dream…having a family. But first he and his pals must defeat Bittleman, the orphanage headmaster trying to sabotage Calvin’s career and dash his hopes of ever being adopted. Filled with high-flying fun and hilarious hijinks, Like Mike will have your whole family cheering into overtime!As its title suggests, Like Mike is a rousing wish-fulfillment fantasy for any kid who’s ever dreamed of soaring for a game-winning slam dunk like basketball legend Michael Jordan. It’s fun but formulaic, beginning when 14-year-old, 4-foot-8 orphan Calvin Cambridge (played by appealing teen rapper Lil’ Bow Wow) dons a magical pair of hand-me-down Nikes with the enticing initials “M.J.” written inside. Next thing you know, Calvin’s the new star of the L.A. Knights, an instant NBA celebrity taking his team to the playoffs alongside favorite teammate Tracy Reynolds (The Best Man‘s Morris Chestnut), with a bevy of villains (including reliable weirdo Crispin Glover) trying to steal his thunder. With Jerry Maguire‘s Jonathan Lipnicki as a fellow orphan, and a solid supporting cast including Eugene Levy, Robert Forster, and two dozen NBA stars, Like Mike is schmaltzy and predictable (and, surprisingly, there’s no cameo from Jordan himself), but its sweet, good-natured quality will captivate kids from start to finish. –Jeff Shannon

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