Media
Slamma Jamma
By Kurt Jensen
Posted: 3/24/2017
This is a scene from the movie"Slamma Jamma." The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.(CNS photo/RiverRain Productions)
NEW YORK (CNS) -- The well-intentioned sports drama "Slamma Jamma" (RiverRain Productions) occasionally comes to tepid life on basketball courts. But a weak script, together with production values indicative of a low budget, keep it hobbled as a story of redemption and Christian faith.
Based very loosely on the life of slam-dunk champion Kenny Dobbs, it stars Chris Staples (a former Harlem Globetrotter in real life), as Michael Diggs, a onetime college basketball star potentially worth millions as a pro.
He's unable to profit from his talent after an unscrupulous agent takes advantage of him. Coasting on his fame, he gets pulled into the violent armed robbery of a gun store, which earns him a six-year prison term.
Not very adroitly, the film shows Diggs embracing evangelical Christianity behind bars, and, upon release, slowly rebuilding his life by energetically making new contacts while working a series of menial jobs. Since he starts out humble, there's no big transformative moment -- and so little in the way of dramatic tension that "Slamma Jamma" becomes almost unwatchable.
Away from the hoops, writer-director Tim Chey, no dab hand at dialogue, comes up with little other than cliched -- if supportive -- remarks from Diggs' ailing mother, Gemma (Rosemary Smith-Coleman), and from a neighborhood minister, Pastor John Soul (Ray Walia).
Diggs eventually gets his life back on track by winning slam-dunk competitions -- halftime events, typically -- with prizes in the many thousands of dollars. The faith elements are limned only sparingly, making this movie a tough slog even for those inclined to look favorably on religious fare.
The film contains a scene of gun violence and some trash-talking. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
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Jensen is a guest reviewer for Catholic News Service.
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CAPSULE REVIEW
"Slamma Jamma" (RiverRain Productions)
This well-intentioned sports drama -- based very loosely on the life of slam-dunk champion Kenny Dobbs -- occasionally comes to tepid life on basketball courts. But a weak script, together with production values indicative of a low budget, keep it hobbled as a story of redemption and Christian faith. Chris Staples (a former Harlem Globetrotter in real life) plays a onetime college star who has to rebuild his life after serving a six-year prison term for armed robbery, during which he embraces evangelical Christianity. Writer-director Tim Chey comes up with little other than cliched dialogue. A single scene of gun violence, some trash-talking. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
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CLASSIFICATION
"Slamma Jamma" (RiverRain Productions) -- Catholic News Service classification, A-II -- adults and adolescents. Motion Picture Association of America rating, PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
