Film sequel Karate Kid: Legends tells a tale we've heard before
The Karate Kid franchise has experienced a resurgence in recent years thanks to Cobra Kai, a Netflix series that centers around the rekindled rivalry between the characters played by original stars Ralph Macchio and Billy Zabka. Building off of that renewed interest is the new film Karate Kid: Legends.
Just like the original 1984 film and the 2010 remake, the story follows a teenage boy who has been uprooted from his home after his mother gets a job in a new city. In this case, Li Fong (Ben Wang) and his mom (Ming-Na Wen) have moved from Beijing to New York City to pursue her career as a doctor. Unfortunately for Li, that also takes him away from Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who was teaching him kung fu.
Even though his mom wants him to avoid fighting, trouble seems to find Li. That's because school bully/karate champion Conor (Aramis Knight) doesn't like that Li is hanging out with his ex-girlfriend, Mia (Sadie Stanley), and because Li stands up for Mia's dad, Victor (Joshua Jackson), a boxer-turned-pizzeria owner who owes money to some shady characters.
The film - directed by Jonathan Entwhistle and written by Rob Lieber - has some unique aspects to it, but it never strays too far from the original. That includes Li deciding to enter a citywide karate tournament - this time called the Five Boroughs - that Conor has won multiple years in a row. The reasons behind Li's participation are different, but the concept remains the same, right down to the very predictable ending.
What this film doesn't get right in the formula, however, is the amount of time spent with the characters to make the audience fully care about them. Instead, the 90-minute film feels custom-made for the TikTok generation, with fast-paced scenes that do little but keep the action moving. Miraculously, the story remains coherent thanks to the time Li spends with Mia and Victor, and consequently their bonds come through the best.
The filmmakers score points through the action scenes, which are relatively realistic despite some cheesiness. Wong shows great athleticism throughout, making the fight scenes believable. Casting Chan (who also starred in the 2010 remake) is a boon; he remains as spry as ever at 71. Macchio comes back for an extended cameo, and his scenes are effective even if he's not asked to do very much.
In addition to his kung fu/karate skills, Wong is a charming performer and he makes a great lead. He's matched by Stanley, who seems to have a never-ending reserve of effervescence that serves her character well. It's fun to see Jackson in a supporting role that still shows off his skills. Wen and Knight are given the thankless parts, with neither having enough screentime to flesh out their characters.
Karate Kid: Legends is watchable, but just barely. The movie relies more on its actors to sell a story that's been told at least twice before in the series, and while the stars do an admirable job, it shouldn't have all been on them. While going for a shorter film is welcome, a few more relevant scenes would have made it feel less rushed.