Karate Kid: Legends

 

“Our traditions are rooted in history. Kung Fu. Karate. Two branches. One tree. The tree grows strong.”

Cheesy, feel-good and cliched, Karate Kid: Legends doesn’t break any new ground when it comes to martial arts underdogs taking on the bullies but it does feature a great charismatic lead in Ben Wang and some fun combo moves thanks to the masters Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio who unite for some legendary buttkicking entertainment. 

Discussion Points:

I’m a big fan of the Karate Kid franchise - from the original trilogy to the recently concluded Cobra Kai series - but I will say I was hesitant to merge it with the 2010 remake - WHERE HE DOESN’T EVEN LEARN KARATE IN A MOVIE CALLED THE KARATE KID BECAUSE INSTEAD HE LEARNS KUNG-FU!!! But….. thankfully this time he learns both, and the combination of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio is an absolute delight. I’m more than happy to admit that it’s very cliched, goes exactly where you expect it to, and literally doesn’t miss a beat / hits every beat (pun intended). However, it’s hard not to like a film that’s this good-natured and charismatic. Ben Wang is a little champion who endears himself from the very start, whilst his flame Mia is played with great energy by Sadie Stanley. Her father, Victor and his pizza shop / boxing plot line is probably the most new thing to the franchise and it’s nice to see Li bond with his hopeful future father-in-law as he coaches him in kung-fu to try and improve his boxing. That’s also one of the films strengths - just like New York which is a melting pot of cultures and styles, Karate Kid: Legends gives showcases for American boxing, Japanese karate and Chinese kung-fu, in a truly mixed martial arts exhibition that’s well choreographed and rapidly executed. The end of the film does feel rushed and we never truly get a feel for the karate of New York and it’s competition / competitors and Conor Day is a weak antagonist narratively even if he is a fierce fighter in the ring. Overall, I really enjoyed this, schmaltz and all - sometimes it’s just nice to watch a feel-good family film.