Michael Jordan sneaker movie a slam dunk

Could a new movie about Air Jordan shoes, of all things, become the year’s sneaker hit? 

Amazon Studios’ robustly entertaining, real-life drama definitely has the makings of one. It’s far and away the most likable film released so far this year.

There’s a starry cast led by Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman and Ben Affleck, who also directs his best movie since “Argo” 11 years ago. 

And since “Stranger Things,” viewers have been falling hard for retro 1980s settings.

“Air” takes place in 1984 Beaverton, Oregon — Nike’s far-flung Pacific Northwest headquarters — where Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” blares and new wired phones in cars are straight outta “The Jetsons.”

Of course, the powerful presence of Michael Jordan — arguably the greatest basketball player of all time — is always palpable, even though we never see the face of the actor (Damian Delano Young) who plays young Jordan. The eventual Chicago Bulls shooting guard utters only a single word over the film’s nearly two hours: “Hello.”

But most appealing is the story of the scrappy way a bona fide piece of modern Americana came to be — it’s a retail tale of tales — and how much quirky fun “Air” has with dramatizing what is essentially a series of events at an office building.

Much like the way 2021’s “King Richard” explores the origins of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams through the struggles of their coach father, “Air” explains Jordan’s nascent fame through his now-iconic footwear. 

So, “Air” is really an underdog sports movie masquerading as a shoe movie. Call it “Shoosiers.”

Our hungry team is the schlubs at Nike, the athletic clothing company that in 1984 was a distant third to Converse and Adidas in the shoe market.

Hardly cash-rich, the company struggled to sign promising rookies to wear its shoes, so executive Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) came up with a revolutionary idea.

To snag hotshot Jordan from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lure him away from deep-pocketed competitors, Nike would not simply slap the brand on Jordan — they would design and market a whole new product around the phenom.

“He doesn’t wear the shoe,” says Vaccaro, channeling Mr. Miyagi. “He is the shoe. The shoe is him.” 

Doubling down on his hunch, he tells Nike founder Phil Knight (Affleck), “I’m willing to bet my career on it.” Smart bet!

The Nike crew is rounded out by Bateman (characteristically dry) as Rob Strasser, Nike’s deflated marketing director; Chris Tucker (good to see ya!) as executive Howard White; and Matthew Maher (a “Simpsons” character come to life) as Peter Moore, the man who designed the Air Jordan.

Alex Convery’s smart script is funny and insightful, but always has one foot in the future.

For example, the terrific Davis, playing Jordan’s crafty mom, Deloris, says, “It won’t be the NBA promoting my son — it’ll be the other way around.” You half expect a fireworks display to start at that very moment.

A meaner critic might chide dialogue like this for being written with an imaginary drumroll behind it. But giving a movie that’s basically about a gym shoe actual emotional heft, as Affleck and Convery have managed to do, is worth the weighty monologues. I got chills every time.

“Air” belongs to Damon in terms of minutes. He’s dogged yet unassuming as Vaccaro, while the character rebelliously flies to North Carolina to pay a surprise visit to Michael’s parents, going against industry norms. 

And his intense eleventh-hour speech to Michael about what his lasting NBA legacy will be is a stunner.

However, Damon’s not a showoff. The cast is a finely tuned team of equals, and nobody has the gall to be like Mike. Affleck is just kooky enough as the Zen, barefoot Knight. And Chris Messina is also hilarious as Jordan’s foul-mouthed agent David Falk. He’s like Jeremy Piven as Ari on “Entourage,” only tolerable.

Be you a fan of basketball or basket weaving, “Air” will snugly fit the tastes of just about anybody.