REVIEW: 'Karate Kid: Legends' kicks its way to the top
The Karate Kid was released in 1984, introducing mainstream moviegoers to the philosophies and principles of karate in an archetypal underdog story that had audiences all over the world cheering in the cinemas. Featuring charismatic turns from comedian Pat Morita as wise Mr. Miyagi (for which he would be nominated for an Academy Award) and Ralph Macchio (The Outsiders) as Daniel LaRusso, The Karate Kid would come to be recognized as a legitimate classic.
When Jackie Chan starred in 2010’s The Karate Kid, the filmmakers were clear that it was a remake, and in no way a follow-up, spin-off, or reboot of the 1984 film (or its sequels). Chan’s Mr. Han and Jaden Smith’s Dre existed in an entirely different continuity from Mr. Miyagi and Daniel, period.
And then Cobra Kai happened.
Originally part of YouTube's first attempts at scripted shows, Cobra Kai continued the Karate Kid story. using the original films as a starting point, the series filled us in on the lives of Johnny and former nemesis Daniel, 33 years after facing off in the All-Valley Karate Tournament.
As told from antagonist Johnny Lawrence's (William Zabka) point of view, Cobra Kai had a somewhat elevated vibe when compared to the films, but in a way that felt organic for the character. What could have been a lazy exercise in fanservice was a surprisingly heartfelt examination of aging, friendship, and the emotional toll of generational trauma, punctuated by tongue-in-cheek humor, (increasingly over-the-top) teen drama, and martial arts sequences. When YouTube Red restructured (eventually becoming YouTube Premium), Netflix picked up Cobra Kai’s single completed season and powered it through to five more.
This brings us to Karate Kid: Legends, the long-awaited follow-up to Chan’s 2010 outing, which—thanks to Cobra Kai’s overwhelming success—has now been retconned into the larger Karate Kid universe. The plot is completely standard-issue at this point, where a boy moves to a new city with his mother, runs afoul of the local bully over a girl, learns to fight from an eccentric master, and then competes in the local tournament to beat said bully at his chosen art. Given that the average moviegoer can see this coming from a mile away, the fun lies in how the film plays with the expected tropes and leverages the talents of its charming cast.
 and LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) steal the show as masters trying to outdo each other in Karate Kid Legends.jpg)
In Legends, Li Fong (Ben Wang) is the boy in question, an affable, easy-going teen who strikes up a fast friendship with Mia (Sadie Stanley) and her father, Victor (Joshua Jackson), who runs the neighborhood pizzeria. While there are no prizes for guessing that Mia’s ex is a karate champion, Legends upends the formula by having young Li double as student and master, mentoring Victor for an upcoming boxing match. Jackson, of course, is no stranger to inspirational training montages or unorthodox on-screen training techniques, having previously starred in the Mighty Ducks trilogy, and his interactions with Wang are a fun twist on the traditional master-student relationship.
The film returns to familiar territory when Li joins the Five Boroughs Karate Tournament, where Mia’s ex, Connor (Aramis Knight) is the reigning champion. With only two weeks to train, the newly-arrived-from-Beijing Mr. Han enlists a family friend to teach Li the techniques he will need to win.
To say that seeing Macchio share the screen with Chan is a treat is an understatement; both bring literal decades of big-screen martial arts history to their roles, with Daniel-san’s first appearance drawing cheers from the preview audience. For his part, Chan as Mr. Han wears his mentor role well, a far cry from his recent Chinese output, which seems focused on recreating past glories. Seeing him now, actually acting his age, in all his mischievous, wizened glory, is as much a treat as it was in 2010.
 is a natural at navigating both dialogue and fight scenes while remaining endlessly likable.jpg)
Where LaRusso, Dre, and Johnny fight for respect in their respective storylines, Li is fighting for a means to exorcise his personal demons. While one would have liked to see more of his character development under Han and LaRusso, (along with maybe one more training montage) to give their interactions more substance, what we do get here is undeniably entertaining.
Building on the origins of the Miyagi-do fighting style relayed to Daniel in 1986’s Karate Kid Part II, Han and LaRusso try to outdo each other in technique and influence, to Li’s chagrin. Sure, it’s doubtful a kung-fu student could learn karate in two weeks, and their training methods would probably put Li in the hospital in real life, but it sure is fun to watch.
From a tonal standpoint, director Jonathan Entwistle (Netflix’s I Am Not Okay with This) veers more on the heightened Cobra Kai side of things, with impossible events—such as a live broadcast, city-wide martial arts tournament where every other contestant showed up in cosplay—being treated as everyday occurrences. Liberal use of animation adds to the effect, helping the filmmakers visualize certain story elements while introducing a fun take on the tournament’s proceedings.
Speaking of fun, special mention must be given to Chan’s influence on the fight choreography, as multiple instances of his signature prop-based action and physical comedy are sprinkled throughout (along with special thanks to his stunt team in the end credits).
 train Victor (Joshua Jackson) puts a fun twist on the traditional master-apprentice relationship.jpeg)
Stylistic flourishes notwithstanding, these movies live or die by their characters, and Wang proves himself a natural at navigating both dialogue and fight scenes while remaining endlessly likable. The supporting cast is equally likable, allowing us to forgive the story’s more unbelievable elements.
Karate Kid: Legends fully commits to the series’ established formula, but does enough differently to make it feel fresh overall. While the outcome of the tournament is never in doubt, the scenes leading up are effective at earning our emotional investment.
After all, archetypes are archetypes for a reason, and this franchise has been proving it since 1984, one (crane-) kick at a time. By the time this new Karate Kid’s family—chosen or otherwise—starts cheering for him on that tournament rooftop, don’t be surprised to find yourself cheering along.
History repeats itself, indeed.
