LeBron James is on a nostalgia trip. First he gave us reboot Space Jam: A New Legacy, and now he’s remaking the definitive hip-hop party movie, House Party, whether we like it or not. And trust me, as someone who considers the original a crucial part of my upbringing, I don’t like this new version already. It’s got a Hell of a tough climb to change my mind, but I’m hoping it can at least bring the same vibe.
There’s no Kid ‘n Play leading this House Party. Instead, it’s Tosin Cole and Jacob Latimore as cash-strapped teens hired to clean James’ mansion while the basksetball star is away. I mean, he left a couple of kids with an empty mansion. Of course they’re going to throw a party! He’s practically asking for it!
Cameos abound with appearances by Lena Waithe, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and more. Also in the cast are Scott Mescudi, Melgvin Gregg, Rotimi, and Allen Maldonado. And of course, Kid ‘N Play are in there, too, even if there’s no direct connection to the earlier comedies. The film will be directed by Calmatic, who has also been charged with rebooting White Men Can’t Jump. These folks are making a killing by exploiting your childhood favorites.
House Party opens in theaters on January 23rd 2023.