Karate Kid: Legends - An Odd, Less than Legendary Entry in the Franchise

 


We know what to expect from Karate Kid films. A youth receives unwanted attention from a bully and is aided by a mentor to defeat said bully in a karate tournament. It's no surprise that Karate Kid: Legends contains this plot. I was surprised by various decisions made in this movie, though.

Karate Kid: Legends might have the most hurried pacing I've ever seen in a film. To say this movie keeps things moving is an understatement (I guess the word "movie" does contain the word "move" in it). The pacing is the biggest problem with the film. I can't think of any story or character elements that are allowed time to breathe and develop. Which is a shame because the movie is full of likable characters and good chemistry between the actors. Li Fong (Ben Wang) is a good protagonist and I like how he interacts with Mia (Sadie Stanley) and Victor (Joshua Jackson). Both mentor figures, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), are fun to watch together. But the filmmakers don't allow the audience to get to know the characters on any sort of deeper level.

I'll give some credit for trying something different, but the protagonist's journey to the tournament and competing in it becomes the story about halfway through the film. There's a separate fight, a boxing match, that Li Fong trains another character for. It's strange, and I believe changing the story to only focus on Li Fong's arc would've made more sense. 

There are things to like about Karate Kid: Legends. The fight choreography is impressive, there are a lot of laughs, it's enjoyable rooting for the hero, etc. But the movie is rushed and not all that memorable. Especially when compared to previous iterations of the Karate Kid. Check out Karate Kid: Legends if you want, but it doesn't have to be high priority. Maybe go wax a car or paint a fence instead.

Rating:

Yellow Light

 This is one to maybe check out once it's streaming

Karate Kid: Legends    94 minutes    PG-13    In theaters

My 2025 Top Movies: The Ballad of Wallis Island, Not Just a Goof, and The Accountant 2



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