Arriving in theaters this week, Karate Kid: Legends attempts to reignite the beloved underdog franchise with a mix of nostalgia and new elements. The film follows Li Fong (Ben Wang), a teenager skilled in kung fu thanks to training under Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). When his mother (Ming-Na Wen) moves them to New York City and forbids fighting, Li quickly finds himself targeted by local bully Connor Day (Aramis Knight), who happens to be the jealous ex-boyfriend of Li’s new romantic interest, Mia (Sadie Stanley).
An Unconventional Mentor Twist
The film’s most notable deviation from the well-worn Karate Kid path occurs early on. After Li defends Mia’s father, former boxer Victor (Joshua Jackson), from debt collectors, Victor persuades Li to train him for a comeback fight. This role reversal, where the young martial artist mentors the older athlete, provides a fresh dynamic and significant screen time in the first half. Jackson’s warm performance and his easy rapport with Wang, alongside the charming chemistry between Wang and Stanley, are frequently cited highlights. Director Jonathan Entwistle’s skill in portraying young relationships, honed on The End of the F***ing World, shines through here.
Legends Enter and the Pace Quickens
The plot shifts gears when Victor’s boxing match ends disastrously due to cheating. To win the $50,000 prize needed to clear Victor’s debt, Li enters a citywide karate tournament. This prompts Mr. Han’s arrival to train him. Recognizing the tournament requires karate, not kung fu, Han recruits the original Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), leveraging their shared connection to the late Mr. Miyagi (briefly revisited via a flashback to The Karate Kid Part II). While the long-awaited team-up of Chan and Macchio delivers charm, particularly in their first meeting at Miyagi’s LA home, their arrival coincides with a significant change in the film’s pacing.
Frenetic Editing Undercuts Emotional Weight
Critics point to the film’s second half as its weakest link. An insistence on relentless, high-energy pacing manifests through constant uptempo music, rapid-fire montage editing, and distracting stylistic flourishes (like video game-inspired graphics and comic book panels during early fights). This frenetic approach prevents key emotional moments from landing effectively. Scenes meant to carry weight – such as Daniel presenting Li with a symbolic headband, or discussions between Han and Li’s mother about her fears stemming from her older son’s death – are rushed and buried under cross-cutting and overpowering music, diminishing their impact.
Mixed Results and Franchise Longevity
While the climactic rooftop fight offers spectacle and Wang makes for a likable new lead, the villain Connor and his mentor O’Shea (Tim Rozon) feel underdeveloped. The film ultimately delivers the expected underdog triumph and celebrates its legacy, including a post-credits cameo. However, Karate Kid: Legends struggles to balance its novel elements with the franchise formula. Ben Wang’s performance, Joshua Jackson’s surprising standout role, and the novelty of seeing Chan and Macchio together provide entertainment value. Yet, the film’s breakneck speed and adherence to clichés in its latter half prevent it from recapturing the emotional resonance of its predecessors. It serves as a reminder of the franchise’s enduring appeal but suggests room for improvement in the inevitable seventh installment.
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