Karate Kid Legends – REVIEW

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Refreshing and updating a movie series that began more than 40 years ago could be seen as a typical lack of original ideas in Hollywood, but “The Karate Kid Legends” cleverly utilizes the goodwill generated by the original trilogy, a reboot, a remake, and the extremely popular TV show “Cobra Kai.” The movie begins in Okinawa 1986 and then jumps to the present day, with Li Fong (the likeable Ben Wang) being a Beijing immigrant in New York alongside his mother, who has a new job. He is tormented by the death of his brother, a Kung Fu expert, which his mother strictly forbids him from practicing. At least the movie’s title provides him with a loophole.

In a new city, Li begins attending a fresh school and encounters new challenges after bonding with Mia at a pizzeria run by her father Victor, a former boxer struggling with debt. This gym is where Conor, a martial arts champion and Mia’s ex-boyfriend, trains. Not only must Li navigate the tension from Conor disapproving of their friendship and budding relationship with Mia, but he also has to deal with being called ‘stuffed crust’ and ‘Beijing’, as creatively uninspired as the names given to former Conservative politician David Davis by his parents.

As Victor’s protector Li steps in to fend off three debt collectors, he also takes him under his wing as a boxing trainer for an upcoming match that could clear Victor’s debt. However, this endeavor nearly turns disastrous. In a desperate bid to clear his debt and win the affections of Mia, Li decides to enter the Five Boroughs tournament instead. Enter Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, who brings his charm to the screen along with his expertise in Kung Fu. Recognizing that his skills lie more in Karate, Ralph Macchio is brought in, known for his unparalleled command of Karate and seemingly eternal youth. With their shared bond to the late, great Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita, who was Oscar-nominated for his role in the original film), the Karate Kid Legends join forces to train Li for the tournament.

As a devoted follower, Macchio and Chan continue to impress me, and I eagerly anticipate their potential return for any future installments. At the age of 71, Chan exhibits an astounding athleticism, and his comedic fight routines are as engaging and creative as they’ve ever been. One particularly entertaining scene involves Chan in a kitchen with Li, which bears a strong resemblance to Cato and Clouseau from the Pink Panther series.

Much like its predecessors, the villains in this film are one-dimensional and shallow, but that doesn’t detract from the numerous references to the films and TV series that die-hard fans will appreciate. The direction by Jonathan Entwhistle is swift and precise, with graphics on screen that subtly reference the Streetfighter video game. This movie moves at a brisk pace, clocking in at 95 minutes, which I’m confident will leave fans exhilarated from start to finish.

Here’s the Karate Kid Legends trailer…..

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2025-05-29 10:23