History Film / Kazaam

* FlatEarthAtheist: The genie doesn't believe in fairy tales. The GENIE, a magical creature, doesn't believe in fairy tales. Maybe he's really a cynic who was disillusioned by the fact that [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor not all of the wishes he granted made his previous owners happy]].

'''Drew''': Well, [[TakeThat you haven't seen Shaq act]].

* CharacterTitle

* MagicAIsMagicA: Genies like Kazaam can't grant "ethereal" wishes involving things like love or hope, only wishes material objects. Subverted at the climax, where [[spoiler:Kazaam becomes a djinn and ''can'' grand wishes involving the ethereal]].

The alleged story is about a kid named Maxwell "Max" Connor (Creator/FrancisCapra) who stumbles into an abandoned building and finds a magic boombox containing Kazaam (Shaquille O'Neal): an actual genie. Naturally, the kid doesn't believe what he sees but Kazaam eventually manages to convince him that he's a legitimate genie that will grant him three wishes. Meanwhile, Alice Connor (Creator/AllyWalker) Max's mother is about to remarry and decided to confess that his real father actually lives in the same city as them. So Max decides to find him. It turns out his father Nick Matteo (James Acheson) is a musical talent agent who later "discovers" Kazaam. His evil boss finds out Kazaam is a genie and tries to figure out how to claim this power for himself.

* IAmSong: "I Am Kazaam"

* GainaxEnding: Kazaam at the end [[spoiler:glows for some reason, brings Max back to life, and somehow transforms into some ethereal form, become a djinn.]]
* GenieInABottle: In Kazaam's case, a ''boombox''. He was in a lamp originally, then the lamp crashed into a boombox when the building it stood in was demolished, causing the transfer.

%%* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Max's dad.

%%* MagicAIsMagicA: Subverted at the climax, [[GainaxEnding much to the confusion of the audience]].

* IncrediblyLamePun: At one point in his "rap", Kazaam says "Let's Green Egg and '''HAM''' it!"

-->[[IncrediblyLamePun Let's green egg and ham it!]]

* BeTheBall: During the climax when Shaq's character uses his genie magic to turn the villain into a ball and slam dunks him into a garbage chute, since, you know, he's a basketball player.

'''Drew''': Yeah, well, [[TakeThat you've never seen Shaq act]].

Not to be confused with ''WesternAnimation/{{Shazzan}}'' which was a cartoon about an heroic genie, or with the similar-sounding ''{{ComicBook/Shazam}}'' who's a superhero. Nor is it to be mistaken for the fictional [[FakeMemories Mandela Effect]]-induced ''Shazaam'', starring Creator/{{Sinbad}} in the titular role.

The alleged story is about a kid named Maxwell "Max" Connor (Francis Capra) who stumbles into an abandoned building and finds a magic boombox containing Kazaam (Shaquille O'Neal): an actual genie. Naturally, the kid doesn't believe what he sees but Kazaam eventually manages to convince him that he's a legitimate genie that will grant him three wishes. Meanwhile, Alice Connor (Ally Walker) Max's mother is about to remarry and decided to confess that his real father actually lives in the same city as them. So Max decides to find him. It turns out his father Nick Matteo (James Acheson) is a musical talent agent who later "discovers" Kazaam. His evil boss finds out Kazaam is a genie and tries to figure out how to claim this power for himself.

''Kazaam'' is a 1996 comedy film where basketball star Shaquille O'Neal plays a rapping genie.

Not to be confused with ''WesternAnimation/{{Shazzan}}'' which was a cartoon about an heroic genie, or with the similar-sounding ''{{ComicBook/Shazam}}'' who's a superhero. Nor is it to be mistaken for the fictional [[FakeMemories Mandela Effect]]-induced ''Shazaam'', staring Creator/{{Sinbad}} in the titular role.

The alleged story is about a kid named Maxwell "Max" Connor (Francis Capra) stumbles into an abandoned building and finds a magic boombox containing Kazaam (Shaquille O'Neal): an actual genie. Naturally, the kid doesn't believe what he sees but Kazaam eventually manages to convince him that he's a legitimate genie that will grant him three wishes. Meanwhile, Alice Connor (Ally Walker) Max's mother is about to remarry and decided to confess that his real father actually lives in the same city as them so Max decides to find him. It turns out his father Nick Matteo (James Acheson) is a musical talent agent who later "discovers" Kazaam. His evil boss finds out Kazaam is a genie and tries to figure out how to claim this power for himself.

* LargeHam: Shaq, when he's not gping DullSurprise.

The 1996 film where basketball star Shaquille O'Neal plays a rapping genie.

The film got [[BoxOfficeBomb smacked at the box office;]] it made $18,937,262 in the United States market against a $20 million budget, while critics gave the film overwhelmingly negative reviews.

* TheCastShowOff: Well, attempt to. The "rapping genie" schtick was meant to capitalize on Shaq's similarly failed efforts to break into rap music.
-->'''Kazaam''': So it's me and Habert in a thousand BC, praying to the Gods.\\
'''Max''': And what do you see?\\
'''Kazaam''': A man with a halo and a nasty decree: "I'll save your butt, but you're gonna serve me. So I nod to Habert, he nods to me. And when the magic is over, we ain't men...\\
'''Both''': WE'RE GENIE!

* GenieInABottle: In Kazaam's case, a ''boombox''. Because, you know, [[IncrediblyLamePun he likes to rap]].

* LargeHam: Shaq, when he's not being the DullSurprise.

* SadlyMythtaken: A major plot point is Kazaam's desire to become a djinn, which he describes as a genie that's been freed from servitude [[spoiler:(which he achieves in the ending)]]. Unfortunately, "djinn" is either simply the plural of genie, or just another term for genie which can be used interchangeably; either way there is absolutely NO distinction between the 2 words. Of course, screwing up some mythology is the ''least'' of the film's problems.
* SayMyName
* ScaryBlackMan: Kazaam, albeit completely by accident.

* FlatEarthAtheist: The genie doesn't believe in fairy tales. The GENIE, a magical creature, doesn't believe in fairy tales. Maybe he's really a cynic who was disillusioned by the fact not [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor all of the wishes he granted made his previous owners happy]].

[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kazaam_a_7302.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:250:Um... Keep practicing those free throws, Shaq.]]

-->--''Film/ScaryMovie''

Not to be confused with ''WesternAnimation/{{Shazzan}}'' which was a cartoon about an heroic genie, or with the similar-sounding ''{{ComicBook/Shazam}}'' who's a superhero.

* FlatEarthAtheist: The genie doesn't believe in fairy tales. [[WebVideo/NostalgiaCritic The... GENIE... doesn't believe in fairy tales! HELLO!?!!]]
** Maybe he's really a cynic who was disillusioned by the fact not [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor all of the wishes he granted made his previous owners happy]].

'''Drew''': Yeah, well, you've never seen Shaq act.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: At the end, Max refuses to work for Malik anymore, especially when his son is endangered. He willingly allows himself to be taken by the authorities, but not before he tells Max he'll clean up and hopes they can rekindle their relationship.]]

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: At the end, Max refuses to work for Malik anymore, especially when his son is engendered. He willingly allows himself to be arrested, but not before he tells Max he'll clean up and hopes to see him again.]]

* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:Max]]. [[TouchstonePictures Not surprising]].

* FlatEarthAtheist: The genie doesn't believe in fairy tales. [[WebVideo/NostalgiaCritic The ... GENIE ... doesn't believe in fairy tales! HELLO!?!!]]

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Max's dad.

* MagicAIsMagicA: Subverted at the climax, [[GainaxEnding much to the confusion of the audience]].

* ParentalAbandonment: Max's Dad, at least.

* TotallyRadical