Watch Kids' Reviews of
LIKE MIKE (HDNET)

What to know: A lighthearted and amusing family film that teaches us to never give up on your dreams and focus on what is good in your life.
KIDS FIRST ENDORSED
Recommended age 8-18
99 minutes
DVD
HDNET MOVIES LLC
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LIKE MIKE (HDNET) cover image Click to play video trailer
Like Mike tells the story of Calvin, a 13-year-old orphan who likes playing basketball. He's given a pair of sneakers that were supposedly worn by Michael Jordan, and when he wears them he plays wizardly on the basketball court. He gets tickets to a basketball game and wins a rare chance to flaunt his moves on the court.

The Knights team is impressed and takes him as a player, and Calvin forms a bond with one of the basketball players. Despite his fame, Calvin feels lonely without a family. Will he find one? Although the plot of the movie is predictable, it's a lighthearted and amusing family film.

I recommend this movie to kids 6 and up because the storyline is very easy to follow, and will appeal to more kids around this age group. Raven Devanney, age 14, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

This is a great movie for Family night. Lil' Bow Wow plays Calvin, a teenage orphan in Los Angeles. Jonathan Lipsnicki (Murph ) and Brenda Song (Reg) play his best friends living in the same orphanage.

Sister Theresa (Anne Meara) runs the orphanage school. She brings some clothing donations to the orphanage. Calvin found a pair of old sneakers with the letters "MJ" inside the shoes. Ox, the orphanage bully, takes the sneakers and throws then onto a power line. Calvin climbs up to the roof to get them back during a storm and falls off with the sneakers on his chest. He starts to play basketball like a pro.

Calvin is chosen at random during a halftime game to play one-on-one with the LA Knight's "Tracy". He was able to score against the basketball pro and his life changes from this moment.

The quality of the movie is awesome. It's clean and sharp. I love how they make it seems real that Calvin can play ball with the pros. The colors are vibrant. The movie soundtrack works well with its comedy. I love it when Tracy tells Calvin that he can't rap and to listen to him, the real rapper.

The beginning of the movie is sad, because all the older orphans consider themselves as dogs, and the toddlers and babies as puppies. All the adopting parents only want puppies. However, the ending is awesome. There are several unexpected twists.

The acting in this movie is amazingly above average. Rapper, Lil' Bow Wow, proves that he's a great rapper and a great actor.

The only part I did not like is the bullying part and the danger that Calvin put himself in when he climbs the roof to get the sneakers.

My favorite characters are Calvin and Tracy. They are such good actors that you can feel how they are connected.

The lesson in this movie is never give up on your dreams and focus on what is good in your life.

I rank this movie 5 out of 5 stars. This movie age range is 5-17. Cheyenne Nguyen, age 9, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic.

Originally released in 2002. Playing throughout the month of March, 2013, on HDNet Movies - kidScene.
When orphan Calvin finds old shoes with the letters MJ fading on the side, he is transformed into a basketball powerhouse with skills that lead to the NBA.
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