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Film: Kazaam

Um... Keep practicing those free throws, Shaq.

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

...No, really.

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.

The film gained $18,937,262 in the United States market, the 87th most successful film of its year. Critically however, it did nowhere near as well.

Not to be confused with Shazzan which was a cartoon about an heroic genie, or with the similar-sounding Shazam.

Tropes included:

Benevolent Genie
Be The Ball: 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.
Big Ol' Eyebrows: The villain, Malik.
Character Title
Completely Different Title: In Russia, the movie was released under the loosely-translated title Called a Genie?. Romania also had a release as Say Three Wishes.
- The Foreign Subtitle: For the Italy release, they added the subtitle The Giant Rap
Disappeared Dad: Subverted because Max later finds him. Too bad he's sort of a Jerkass.
Disney Death: Max. Not suprising.
Dull Surprise: Shaq. When he's not the Large Ham, of course.
Flat Earth Atheist: The genie doesn't believe in fairy tales.
Gainax Ending
Genie in a Bottle: In Kazaam's case, a boombox. Because, you know, he likes to rap.
Incredibly Lame Pun: At one point in his "rap", Kazaam says "Let's Green Egg and HAM it!"
Hey, It's That Guy!: It's kind of funny seeing a young Weevil running from punks considering he grows up to go toe to toe with them.
Jerkass: Malik, Max's dad (at first, anyway)
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Max's dad.
Large Ham: Shaq, when he's not being the Dull Surprise.
- "Let's green egg and ham it!"
Magic A Is Magic A: Subverted at the climax, much to the confusion of the audience.
Magical Negro: Kazaam. Literally.
Parental Abandonment: Max's Dad, at least.
Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: "Wish Not Granted."
Product Placement: At one point, Kazaam makes it rain candy and snacks. All of which are brandname products.