Ralph Macchio made a career out of “The Karate Kid.” Even now, he has “Cobra Kai” to kindle the warm memories.
“Karate Kid: Legends,” however, isn’t his greatest hits album, but a hit-and-run show that gets him in the film only briefly.
The focus here is on a martial arts student in Beijing who’s studying under his uncle, Han (Jackie Chan). Just when the boy shows promise, his mother (Ming-Na Wen) says they’re moving to New York.
Jackie Chan, left, teaches Ben Wang the finer points of fighting in "Karate Kid: Legends."
Columbia Pictures
Because he talks with a girl at a pizza shop, young Li (Ben Wang) is called out by a sadistic karate student (Aramis Knight) and made to feel, well, less than. Instead of taking more classes, he agrees to teach the girl’s father (Joshua Jackson) so he can fight in a boxing tournament to pay off the pizza shop’s debts.
Quickly, it’s apparent dad isn’t going to make the finals, so Li decides to strap on the old headband and train for a 5 Boroughs fight, one that will include that mean karate not-so-kid.
Han, catches wind of the development, comes to New York to train him and pulls in Macchio, who gets a moment to remember his own teacher, Mr. Miyagi. There are scant reminders of the original film and a switch (“jacket on, jacket off”) that sounds dirtier than “wax on, wax off.”
Briskly directed by Jonathan Entwistle, “Karate Kid: Legends” has a cheap quality that makes you wonder why anyone in it bothered.
Wang is a likable enough student, but the wisdom Macchio imparts is slight. At times, he even looks embarrassed to bring out some of the trappings of his signature film and its follow-up television series.
Wang’s work in “American Born Chinese” was more impressive. Even Chan’s quick moves don’t make an impact. Why Jackson is in this is anyone’s guess.
When it gets to that big showdown (atop a building, no less), it’s a quick fight to the finish. Any tense moments must have been left back in China.
If this is the beginning of a new “Karate Kid” saga, there aren’t clues. Everything wraps up (in 90-some minutes) and gives Jackson an exit strategy. Macchio and Chan get outs, too, which means no one was kicking and screaming to get this done.
