Note: this review is spoiler-free.
Karate Kid: Legends did what it set out to do: make audiences nostalgic for the original Karate Kid.
It’s been 41 years since the first movie brought Asian martial arts into the global spotlight, turning “wax on, wax off” into a pop culture mantra and igniting a fierce karate craze for most of the late 80s. Since then, we’ve seen the release of four more Karate Kid movies (with declining rates of success), a smattering of video games, a very short-lived animated series, and Cobra Kai, a surprisingly well-executed Netflix series that has turned into a cultural entity separate from the movie. But the problem with being part of a multi-billion-dollar legacy is that everything inevitably gets measured against the original, and so far, nothing else quite measures up.
The latest addition to the franchise, Karate Kid: Legends, continues the same trend. But rather than harp on like a die-hard, foaming-at-the-mouth fan about how it falls short of the first movie, it’s probably fair to say it was never really trying to compete with it in the first place. Instead, it’s a film that leans hard on nostalgic callbacks, familiar references, and a distinctive charm that captures the wholesomeness of classic ‘80s feel-good movies.
Let’s get this straight from the start: Karate Kid: Legends is a decent movie. There is a lot to enjoy about it, especially with its cast of actors who actually know how to fight. Ben Wang, who stars as fighting prodigy/ new-to-New-York teen Li Fong, isn’t too shabby when it comes to kung fu and karate, skills he previously flexed on the Disney+ action-comedy series American Born Chinese. And then there’s Jackie Chan who returns to the franchise to reprise his role as Han Shi Fu, Ben’s mentor (there’s no mention of the last mentee, played by Jaden Smith). There’s also Ralph Macchio, who returns to reprise his legendary role as Daniel DaRusso. His karate chops are okay compared to his co-stars, but you know what? Since he’s the original Karate Kid, we’ll give him an A for Effort.
The movie also shines because its storyline is so straightforward and optimistic that you’ll leave the cinema convinced that anything is possible, with a little help from your friends and martial arts masters. Karate Kid: Legends essentially sees Ben trying to help his newfound friends, Mia (Sadie Stanley) and her father Victor (Joshua Jackson), save their scruffy New York City pizzeria. How does he save it? By joining a borough-wide karate competition to win the prize money. He also has to face off against Mia’s hot-headed ex-boyfriend, Connor (Aramis Knight), a fierce karate competitor with plenty of fire to match.
But when you’re making a movie, do you really just want it to be okay? While Karate Kid: Legends is undeniably a feel-good film, with enough charm to hold your attention for two hours, no one spends $45 million to make something that can only be described as “adequate.” The film has very little emotional depth, quote-worthy scenes, or intense fight sequences, similar to the first Karate Kid or even the second. Although there are moments that come close — Ben does have a tricky move that demands serious flexibility and a brutal low kick — it doesn’t quite compete with LaRusso’s signature Crane Kick in the original movie. Despite its solid storytelling and well-executed fight scenes, Karate Kid: Legends dooms itself to the same fate as every sequel before it: forever stuck in the shadow of the original.
