ViewGuide

Created Jul 14, 2012 01:17AM PST • Edited Jan 23, 2018 12:46AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   USA Basketball will likely romp to a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics. But even LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook can’t hold a candle to the original Dream Team. “A majestic team,” observed Chuck Daly, their coach.

   Michael Jordan – just peaking as a global superstar – was joined by Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and eight more Hall of Fame players on the 1992 USA Basketball team, the first to feature NBA players.

   Majestic basketball aside, the popular sensation they caused was akin to Beatlemania.

   This newly produced documentary nicely tells the tale, even revealing some little known anecdotes. For instance, Chuck Daly had the Dream Teamers scrimmage a college all-star team, with no press or outsiders allowed in. Good thing, because the kids started schooling the superstars. The movie catches Bobby Hurley – a great college player, but not in the league of Dream Teamer John Stockton – reflecting 20 years later what it was like to lead David against Goliath. Sports drama writ real.

   Unfortunately, the documentary doesn’t seem to be available on-demand. ESPN and NBA TV ran it in June. Perhaps they’re still playing it on rotation, in which case you can DVR it.

   As an hors d’oeuvre for LeBron and Kobe eating London Broil, it can’t be beat. Um, um, good.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Athletes are better playing than reflecting, Charles Barkely aside. However it is fun to hear them reflect.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    The central story is of Michael becoming the biggest sports star in the world, the Ali of the 1990s.

    It also conveys the paradox that is Charles Barkley, nice guy-bully. Charles being Charles, he throws a needless elbow at an over-matched opponent, bringing down torrents of boos and anti-American criticism. Undeterred, he then proceeds to charm the throngs coursing through Barcelona.

    Barkley: American swagger & charm personified. He also led the team in scoring. Bank that.

    Unfortunately, the documentary stints on basketball action, a shame since the peeks are indeed majestic. Here’s a suggestion: the NBA should offer a PPV of the Dream Team’s basketball highlights. I’d pay.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.2

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Gentle 1.2

19. Rudeness Polite 1.3

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

    “Considered by many to be the greatest team ever assembled in any sport, the Dream Team defeated its opponents by an average of almost 44 points en route to the gold medal,” saith Wikipedia.

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0