‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Review: Shaky Writing Doesn’t Knock Out the Fun

Over 40 years after John G. Avildsen‘s The Karate Kid starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita was released, the franchise is still going strong with a new theatrical film, Jonathan Entwistle‘s Karate Kid: Legends. Since the conclusion of Daniel LaRusso’s (Macchio) story in The Karate Kid trilogy in 1989, there have been a couple of entries to continue the legacy, but they’ve failed to resonate with audiences.

Cobra Kai was able to win back fans of the original films and draw in new audiences (myself included). It’s a perfect example of what a good legacy sequel should be, as it honored what came before while also creating something new and exciting for the franchise. Coming right off the heels of the series finale, Karate Kid: Legends has a lot to live up to. It’s exciting to see Macchio and Jackie Chan (from Harald Zwart‘s The Karate Kid reboot) returning and interacting with one another for the first time. While the writing is a bit shaky, Karate Kid: Legends is a good continuation of the Karate Kid legacy.

Ben Wang Delivers a Roundhouse Performance

As a fan of Chang Can Dunk and Destin Daniel Cretton‘s American Born Chinese, I was ecstatic to see that Ben Wang would be leading a major film. While he did a bit of fighting in American Born Chinese, I was impressively surprised by how well-trained he is in Karate Kid: Legends. He’s quick on his feet and effortlessly executes his moves. Unlike LaRusso or Jaden Smith‘s Dre Parker in The Karate Kid (2010), Wang’s Li Fong already has fighting experience.

Wang not only knows how to kick ass, but he delivers a gut-punching performance in the lead role. His dynamic with the entire cast is great because he easily bounces between being charismatic, scared, funny, shy, wise, and young. It’s good to see Wang get the spotlight he deserves, and I’m sure that he’ll continue this momentum as Wyatt Callow in the upcoming The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Cast Have Power, but Its Writing Doesn’t Pack a Punch

Even though Karate Kid: Legends needed more screen time, what makes it stand out from the rest of the films in the franchise is how fleshed out the secondary characters are. Ming-Na Wen plays Li Fong (Wang)’s mother, Dr. Fong, who doesn’t support her son’s fighting for a heartbreaking reason. The explanation is dark, but it doesn’t hit as hard as it should in the film. Considering Wen’s resume in Mulan, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Star Wars franchise, it’s a shame she doesn’t get to show off her action skills in this film.

Joshua Jackson steals almost every scene he’s in throughout Karate Kid: Legends. His character, Victor Lipani, hasn’t been seen in the trailers, but his story is an interesting subplot that could’ve been the narrative in a potential sequel. Instead, it’s plopped in this film and feels like a detour from what audiences are coming to see this movie for. Sadie Stanley is charming and mature in the role of Victor’s daughter, Mia, who is also the romantic lead. She’s given more urgency than just a girl caught between Li and the film’s antagonist, Connor Day (Aramis Knight).

As for Connor, Knight doesn’t stand out among the villains in the Karate Kid films. The antagonists are never really fleshed out, so they’re just presented to be a force to be up against; even his dojo and sensei are explained in small passing lines. It’s hard not to compare Connor to the complex villains in Cobra Kai. While they are shown to be a threat, there aren’t enough moments from their perspective to understand the reasoning behind their actions.

Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan Are Underutilized in ‘Karate Kid: Legends’

Arguably, the biggest draw to see Karate Kid: Legends is for Macchio and Chan reprising these roles and getting to interact with one another. Since The Karate Kid (2010) was essentially a retread of the original film, it didn’t seem possible that LaRusso and Han would ever cross paths, yet here we are. The trailers had me excited because they showed that Wang would enhance his kung-fu skills from Han, while also learning Miyagi-Do from LaRusso. One of my favorite parts of sports films (like the Creed trilogy) is the training montages. Karate Kid: Legends delivers on making these fun and inspirational, but the story moves so quickly through its 94-minute runtime, that the climax doesn’t feel earned.

Unfortunately, that short runtime also affects the impact of Macchio and Chan’s return. They have a comedic dynamic with their unique teaching styles, and while they do pass the torch to Wang, it feels massively condensed. If you haven’t seen Cobra Kai and went into Karate Kid: Legends excited to see Macchio back, you’d be sorely disappointed with how anti-climactic they make his return. Thankfully, Karate Kid: Legends doesn’t overwrite his arc in Cobra Kai, but his limited screen time feels like a disservice to the original Karate Kid.

‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Is a Solid Foundation for the Franchise

Even with its short runtime and questionable writing, Karate Kid: Legends checks off the right boxes to be a worthy successor in the franchise. Wang is a compelling lead who can carry on the legacy for years to come and wax off the nostalgia; the fight scenes are enjoyable, with every punch and kick leaving an impact; the supporting cast is great and deserves to be more fleshed out in potential sequels.

The door is left open for Macchio and Chan to come back to the franchise, but hopefully any potential future outings are handled better to let them shine in these roles. Maybe Li can travel to the Valley to help Johnny Lawrence’s (William Zabka) Cobra Kai or LaRusso’s Miyagi-Do students learn kung fu. Whatever is next for the franchise, it’s left in good hands with Wang at the forefront.

Karate Kid: Legends is now showing in theaters. Follow Agents of Fandom on socials for all the latest entertainment news and reviews.