June 2002 Like Mike : Okay, I Can Deal with That

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Reviewed by Shelby J. Jones Like Mike - Okay, I Can Deal with That Directed by John Schultz (I) Written by Michael Elliot BOW-BOW…Let me here you holler, BOW-BOW. In “Like Mike,” BOW-BOW, formerly known as Lil Bow Wow steps off the mic and stars as the undersized Calvin Cambridge, an orphan hoping to find a family that will adopt him to start a new beginning. Morris Chestnut holds the film together as Tracey Reynolds, an NBA superstar who doesn’t know the meaning of pass da ball! For starters, I was shocked. I thought this film would be another shameless attempt by the film studios to utilize the marketing power of a platinum rap star to build memorable box-office numbers. Fortunately, this film actually delivers a heart-felt story and a dream like life for BOW. Calvin, just lucky enough to receive a box of goodies containing a pair of rare Nike Air’s that once belonged to MJ…that’s right – Calvin ends up with a pair of Mike’s old dogs which propel Calvin into a fast-breaking, three-hundred and sixty-degree, slam-dunking, shorty with cornrows on his way to NBA superstardom. Thrown in Calvin’s path are his notorious orphanage manager, playa-hatin kids, gangsters and silly adopting families more bent on obtaining Calvin’s phat pay-check than providing him with love and a home. The beautiful thing about this film is that it is something great for the kids. They will love it. After the screening, I jumped in my ride and started pumping, Bow-Bow, “Doggy Bag.” The boy can rap and actually holds his own in his debut film performance. In theatres on July 3rd.