Bad fantasy comedy is dated and materialistic; bullying.

| Original Score: 1/5 | Aug 7, 2020

The movie looked lively and imaginative in the trailer that has been showing for months. Stretch it out to 92 minutes, though, and you realize that the entire thing was effectively and attractively squeezed into the preview.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 8, 2019

It's marketing, not moviemaking.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Aug 23, 2017

Ultimately this is a kids-only affair.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 22, 2014

Dismal.

| Original Score: 1/5 | May 29, 2013

It's hard to ignore the unpleasant implications of a scenario that involves a small white boy lording it over an African-American man twice his size.

| Original Score: 2/4 | May 29, 2013

In his Hollywood debut, Shaq more or less played himself as a coveted college center in William Friedkin's excellent Blue Chips. Kazaam is a compelling argument for keeping him on the court and as far away from a movie set as possible.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 29, 2013

Kazaam puts up a brick.

| Original Score: 1.5/4 | May 29, 2013

The 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.

| Original Score: 3/4 | May 29, 2013

Are you bored yet?

| Original Score: 1/4 | May 29, 2013

Good ol' Shaq, the big happy galoot, makes you smile just by showing up. Because of him, Kazaam is a minimal kid-pleaser, but because the trailers made us dream of genie, we can't help being disappointed when we get a turbaned social worker.

| May 29, 2013

I'd call the film innocuous, except that Max's gangster dad is apparently an Italian-American and the movie's main villain is an Arab. Do kids really need these stereotypes reinforced? There's also more violence here than you might expect.

| Original Score: 1/5 | May 29, 2013

Kazaam never brings off the trick we most want to see: It fails to make the jolly, 7-foot-1 Shaq larger than life.

| Original Score: D+ | Sep 7, 2011

Too gritty, violent and downbeat for tykes, it's also a bit juvenile and fairy tale-like for teens and older auds.

Full Review | Mar 26, 2009

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | May 8, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jan 14, 2005

Prime MST3K material, ripe for the ripping.

| Original Score: 0/4 | Dec 28, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Aug 4, 2003

Horrible kids movie. The kid is annoying and there's no clever humor.

Full Review | Original Score: 0/5 | Jul 14, 2003

As fairy tale, buddy comedy, family drama, thriller or rap revue, Kazaam is simply uninspired and unconvincing, and Mr. O'Neal, who can carry a basketball team, lacks the charisma to rescue this misguided effort.

| May 20, 2003