Jackie Chan & Ralph Macchio Deliver Action

Kung fu meets karate, and youngsters meet legends within the newest film that crane-kicks its approach into theaters. Karate Kid: Legends serves as a continuation of Daniel LaRusso’s (Ralph Macchio) story that started in 1984 when Mr. Miyagi taught him karate and has continued for many years into the just lately completed Netflix collection Cobra Kai. Jackie Chan reprises his function as Mr. Han from the 2010 remake, merging him right into a shared universe of martial arts. But on the heart of this serviceably entertaining sequel is Ben Wang as Li Fong as the brand new child who strikes to a brand new place together with his single mom, will get bullied, meets a woman, and faces off towards his adversary in a martial arts event.

This traditional story is a system that’s stood the check of time. Daniel LaRusso went by means of this journey in 1984, Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) completed it fifteen years in the past, and now Li Fong takes the stage as our subsequent karate child (disclaimer: Hilary Swank didn’t comply with the system the others did). Karate Kid: Legends is aware of the system we’re used to, performs into a few of it, and adjustments issues up a bit. The movie begins with a flashback to The Karate Kid Part II, incorrectly labeled as being set in 1986 as a result of it solely takes place just a few months after the primary film. We then meet up with Mr. Han, who has moved up from upkeep man to a revered shifu instructing at a kung fu faculty. We have our references to “jacket on, jacket off,” and we discover out certainly one of his college students is Li.

Li’s mom (performed by the very good Ming-Na Wen) doesn’t need Li combating, and she or he strikes them to New York City. Eagle-eyed New Yorkers like me might discover that whereas the movie makes use of NYC b-roll, nearly all of the movie is certainly not filmed within the Big Apple. As he’s a fish out of water on this new metropolis, the film leans into that system, but in addition brings within the collection’s first Asian lead. It’s a wise alternative as a result of it’s a franchise that’s all the time leaned into Asian martial arts, so seeing him as the brand new child permits a brand new perspective, whereas additionally portray a brand new protagonist who already has a background in kung fu.

But realizing kung fu isn’t sufficient as a result of he quickly meets a woman named Mia (Sadie Stanley) and her psycho martial artist ex-boyfriend Connor (Aramis Knight). Connor is our new Johnny, and as he will get jealous of Li and Mia hanging out, he picks a combat that doesn’t finish properly for Li. Like all the films on this collection, it showcases how sturdy our villain is in comparison with our hero, and we’ve got to root for the hero to study extra and turn into higher to be able to finally face off towards the villain and (hopefully) win.

Wang provides fairly efficiency right here. He’s not overdoing something, and he genuinely looks like a child who means properly. He types a real relationship with Mia with the potential of romance, and he’s humorous, whereas additionally being an unbelievable bodily performer. Many of the martial arts stunts on this film are carried out by him, and you actually get the sense that he could possibly be the subsequent Jackie Chan if he picks his tasks proper. He’s already lined up for one more high-profile supporting function within the subsequent Hunger Games film, and I’m excited to see what he does subsequent. His work right here is great and the script permits him the prospect to shine.

The movie additionally makes him a bit extra layered than the earlier Karate Kids. Daniel and Dre have been primarily upset as they moved into unfamiliar territory the place they bought bullied, so it was straightforward to pity them. Julie was appearing out as a result of her dad and mom died, and regardless that Swank did job of portraying it, the script didn’t give her sufficient there. Here, Li is grieving the dying of his older brother, who was killed after a martial arts match. He feels responsible for freezing and being unable to assist him. He’s an fascinating character who’s been traumatized by the incident, and when he’s put in an analogous scenario once more, he makes the identical mistake. Unfortunately, the script by no means actually provides him an opportunity to repair his error.

It’s unusual to have Victor be such a distinguished character throughout the first hour, after which as soon as the actual story kicks in with Li, Han, and Daniel, he’s barely within the movie in any respect anymore. It’s additionally humorous to see Ralph Macchio billed so prominently right here. While he’s simply coming off of his lead function in Cobra Kai, Daniel doesn’t present up till about an hour into the film. The final half hour is the place Karate Kid: Legends picks up fairly a bit. We have lots of fights, and director Jonathan Entwistle throws in some model we haven’t seen earlier than from this collection, with slow-mo, freeze-frames, and comedian book-style graphics. It was a enjoyable model that received’t work for everybody, however I loved it.

As far as legacy sequels go, Karate Kid: Legends is not any Top Gun: Maverick. The event thought is much less fascinating this time round and feels prefer it’s thrown in there as a result of Karate Kid films nearly all the time have one. Chan’s efficiency within the 2010 Karate Kid film had a few of his finest dramatic work he’s ever put to celluloid, and whereas it’s all the time enjoyable to see him on the large display, he’s leaning extra comfortably into his persona right here. Macchio is simply nearly as good as Daniel as he all the time is. Stanley supplies an exquisite quantity of humanity to her function. Knight does job because the villain. He doesn’t have an excessive amount of display time, however he will get us to root towards him. Wyatt Olef performs Li’s tutor, who’s written to be a humorous fan favourite, however his efficiency hits a double as an alternative of a house run.

Overall, this film is probably not nearly as good as the unique Karate Kid from 1984 or its 2010 remake, however it’s actually the very best Karate Kid sequel ever made. You’ll have time, particularly in case you’re a sucker for these feel-good underdog tales the place a child strikes to a brand new place and turns into the very best round.

SCORE: 7/10

As ComingSoon’s assessment coverage explains, a rating of seven equates to “Good.” A profitable piece of leisure that’s value trying out, however it might not attraction to everybody.

Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Karate Kid: Legends assessment. It is out in US theaters on Friday.