Within the pantheon of pointless legacy sequels — distant continuations that dig up many years of historical past to often transcendent however principally exasperating impact — it’s arduous to give you a movie that good points much less from its connections to the work it’s tied to than “Karate Child: Legends.” Partly, there’s a deep sense of redundancy: the long-lasting ’80s “Karate Child” martial arts franchise has already been the topic of a six-season sequel collection “Cobra Kai” that simply concluded a mere three months in the past, which had flaws however nonetheless impressed affection for its cheeky reverence to the tacky charms of the 1984 unique movie.
However extra importantly, “The Karate Child,” for as a lot because it reigns supreme as some of the well-known sports activities/martial arts movies of its time, is an exceedingly easy story a couple of boy, his mentor, the lady he has a crush on, and the bully whose ass he kicks. A film that carries the load and mythos to energy many years later sequel movies? Not precisely. And in tying its story to the saga of Daniel LaRusso, “Karate Child: Legends” resorts to repeating his journey solely, resulting in a martial arts movie that has restricted new strikes in comparison with what audiences have seen 40 years in the past.
Though “Legends” begins with outdated footage from “The Karate Child Half II” of a baby-faced Ralph Macchio as David, and the late Pat Morita as his beloved trickster mentor Mr. Miyagi, for a lot of its operating time, it’s strongest connection to the franchise at giant really comes from the (barely over)hated 2010 “Karate Child” replace, which starred a really younger Jaden Smith as a boy who strikes to Beijing and trains below kung fu grasp Mr. Han, performed by an precise kung fu grasp Jackie Chan. Should you haven’t seen that remake/now retconned in sequel, it’s simple to overlook this and assume Han is an unique character — nary a reference to Smith’s pupil is to be discovered. That’s a very good factor for a film that’s already overburdened by the previous, but it surely’s a weird coincidence how Han had at least two younger college students with remarkably comparable coming-of-age journeys.
On this movie, his protégé is Li Fong (Ben Wang), a quiet teenager who will get dragged out of Han’s dojo by his protecting mom (Ming-Na Wen, completely wasted) to maneuver to New York Metropolis. His mom is set for him to depart his preventing days behind and give attention to his SATs, however Li is extra excited about flirting with Mia (Sadie Stanley), the lovable pizza parlor worker across the block. Mentioned flirting will get him within the crosshairs of Connor (Aramis Knight), Mia’s ex and a karate practitioner who research at a dojo run by a shady grasp whereas coaching for the 5 Boroughs Match, a collection of fights occurring throughout the town. If that sounds remarkably just like the storyline of the 1984 movie, with some correct nouns subbed out (“Los Angeles” for “New York Metropolis,” “Underneath 18 All-Valley Karate Championships” for “5 Boroughs Match”), then, properly, that’s the intent.
There’s one or two wrinkles right here to modify issues up: having already educated extensively in martial arts, Li is loads succesful in preventing already, and the primary compulsory coaching sequence is definitely him teaching Mia’s former boxer dad Victor (an extremely charming Joshua Jackson, simply the movie’s MVP) to assist him get again within the ring. As an alternative of being a vaguely fascist aryan masculinity cult like the long-lasting Cobra Kai, Connor’s dojo is run by mobsters and mortgage sharks. But it surely’s not precisely a shock when circumstances push Li to enter the 5 Burroughs Match to settle his beef with Connor and win Mia’s coronary heart, or that Han finally follows him to the States to fill within the Miyagi function. From there, “Karate Child: Legends” just about hits each beat of the unique movie to a tee, and whereas a lot of that’s simply par for the course for any sports activities drama, it’s express aping of its supply materials simply exposes the obtrusive flaws of its execution.
The debut directorial function movie by Jonathan Entwistle (greatest identified for creating the Netflix TV collection “The Finish of the Fucking World” and “I Am Not Okay With This;” star of the latter Wyatt Oleff will get a enjoyable aspect half as Li’s math tutor-turned-wingman), “Legends” principally appears like a barely upscale model of a Netflix present, a “Cobra Kai” episode made on an even bigger finances. There’s some enjoyable graffiti-style graphics right here and there when the 5 Burroughs Match kicks off, however in any other case, the movie’s New York Metropolis feels absent of grit (it received’t be a shock to be taught the film was filmed in Montreal). The combat choreography is satisfactory however by no means spectacular, and an over-reliance on shaky fast cuts drains out some a lot wanted physicality. It doesn’t assist that there’s surprisingly few of them, and that the movie has little curiosity in compellingly constructing out its pulpy karate-fueled world, dashing by means of the 5 Burroughs Match on the finish with out benefiting from the idea.
Not serving to the fights hit to their fullest potential is that we don’t have a lot alternative to care concerning the folks preventing them. Wang tries his greatest, however Li is a wafer-thin cut-out with out a lot allure, and his romance with the equally vapid Mia lacks spark. Connor is by some means extra of a one-dimensional monster than Johnny Lawrence of the unique movies, and there’s zero juice to his rivalry with Li contemplating how little the characters really work together. Most shortchanged by the script Wen, whose character’s trauma and relationship along with her son is about up as an important a part of the narrative, only for her to get confined to the margins of the narrative and for her battle to resolve with little fanfare. There’s some attention-grabbing potential in telling “Karate Child” story that really facilities on its Asian characters slightly than leaving them in mentor or supporting roles, however “Legends” doesn’t appear to truly care about that risk in any respect.
Not serving to the unbalanced narrative is that, in between rehashing all of the plot factors of the unique, it must carry the hero of the unique again. Regardless of his distinguished place on the poster, Macchio is definitely within the film lower than you’d assume, solely showing within the third act, but it surely’s not welcome when he lastly makes his entrance. That’s no disrespect to the actor, however Daniel’s presence saps time away from characters who desperately want extra growth. Han and Li’s student-teacher relationship specifically is diluted and lacks needed grounding, and there’s little compelling friction between the 2 masters to make up for it. Macchio will get little or no to do in reality, and his presence has nearly zero significant affect on Li. He may very well be lower out solely, if the film didn’t care about reminding the viewers of the unique.
“Remind the viewers of the unique” appears to be all that “Legends” actually aspires to, sadly, slightly than utilizing its first rate forged to inform their very own story. Notably, the closing scene doesn’t even function Li or his supporting forged, as an alternative pairing off Daniel and a cameo from the franchise’s previous for an prolonged, unfunny gag. It’s as if the film itself is lastly giving in to what it presumes viewers members are literally right here for, whereas tacitly admitting that not one of the new issues it brings to the desk have the punch (or the kick) to face alone.
Grade: C
Sony Footage will launch “Karate Child: Legends” in theaters Could 30.