Do you know there is a woman model of The Karate Child? Positive, which may be a reductive option to describe The Subsequent Karate Child, however historical past has all however diminished 1994’s oft-maligned Karate Child film to such phrases. Earlier than Oscar-winner Hilary Swankwas kicking butt and taking names in Million Greenback Child, she was doing it in her main position debut as Julie, a brand new scholar of Mr. Miyagi’s, within the fourth installment of the Karate Child franchise. Regardless of The Subsequent Karate Child being the lowest-grossing movie within the franchise up to now, there are a number of causes it could be price streaming on Tubi, particularly with the discharge of Karate Child: Legends on Might 30.
What Is ‘The Subsequent Karate Child’ About?
Julie is an angsty and rebellious teenager dwelling along with her grandmother in Boston following the dying of her dad and mom. Julie lashes out in opposition to her grandmother, lecturers, and friends, and solely finds respite in caring for a hawk named Angel on the college’s roof. Mr. Miyagi, an previous good friend of Julie’s grandfather, gives to let Julie’s grandmother keep at his home in LA for a stint whereas he watches over Julie in Boston (an odd idea, sure, they needed to arrange Mr. Miyagi with a feminine scholar someway…)
At Julie’s faculty, a “safety fraternity” is starting to kind referred to as The Alpha Elite, comprised of younger males who’re being skilled to battle to guard the college, however with sinister undertones. The unstated chief of the group is the quite unstable Ned Randall, who regularly makes undesirable sexual advances in opposition to Julie, typically with the assistance of the Alpha Elite. One of many potential Elite Pledges is part-time safety guard Eric, who takes a real romantic curiosity in Julie and takes it upon himself to defend her in opposition to the opposite boys. Nonetheless, someday, sans Eric, the Alpha Elite strike in opposition to Julie whereas she is feeding Angel in school after hours, and although she escapes, she is caught and suspended from faculty for 2 weeks for trespassing.

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Whereas at dwelling someday, Julie is nearly hit by a automobile. That’s when she effortlessly jumps into the tiger place, catching the attention of Mr. Miyagi. Julie reluctantly shares that her father skilled her in Karate as a toddler. Miyagi informs her that Julie’s father realized Karate from his father, who realized it from Mr. Miyagi. In alternate for agreeing to do her homework that she is lacking, Miyagi agrees to provide Julie karate classes. A journey to defeat the Alpha Elite ensues, stuffed with monks, hawks, quite a lot of teenage self-discovery, and karate-based bonding.
We’re on (Damaged) Board With This Forged
After all, one very thrilling motive to stream The Subsequent Karate Child is to see Hilary Swank (solely 20 years previous on the time) in such an early movie position. Seeing the late-great Noriyuki “Pat” Morita reprise his franchise position as Mr. Miyagi is one other equally thrilling motive. Basically, the solid is an actual “who’s who” of the ’90s, and so they do a terrific job with a ridiculous script.

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Michael Ironside, recognized for roles in Complete Recall and Prime Gun, stars within the villainous “Colonel” position. Even Walton Goggins, beloved actor of Season 3 of The White Lotus, makes a shock look as one of many Alpha Elite. If nothing else, it’s fairly exceptional to see actors who’ve turn into so distinguished so early of their careers.
Feminism and Fan Service
The Subsequent Karate Child could not have a lot to do with Daniel LaRusso, Cobra Kai, or different acquainted franchise faces, but it surely does comprise fairly a little bit of fan service that makes it a quintessential watch in any Karate Child marathon. With out spoiling an excessive amount of, let’s simply say Mr. Miyagi does attempt to get Julie to “Wax on, Wax off.” Julie even makes use of the ache suppression method from the primary film on Angel to repair her damaged wing.
It’s genuinely enjoyable to see a female twist on the franchise, and as aforementioned, the movie itself is a little bit of ridiculous enjoyable. The stakes will not be as excessive or grounded in actuality as many of the different Karate Child movies, which is probably going why it obtained such a poor crucial response. Nonetheless, over three many years later, The Subsequent Karate Child stands the take a look at of time as the one of six movies within the franchise to middle on a lady, and tonally, it feels utterly distinctive to any of its companion movies. Hilary Swank and Julie could not have fairly been the “subsequent” Karate Child, per se, however she’s going to endlessly be considered one of them, and that is fairly cool.
The Subsequent Karate Child is streaming on Tubi.