Karate Kid Legends: Latest Franchise Installment Should Have Waxed On, Not Waxed Off

By John Kirk

Rating: C+

I recently posted on social media that I could watch Daniel LaRusso crane-technique kick Johnny Lawrence in the head all day.

Maybe that’s just pettiness but what I loved about 1984’s The Karate Kid was the tried-and-true formula of the scrappy underdog who overcomes all odds to succeed. I think that’s a popular theme and it still resonates today.

But it’s got to make you want to believe, and that’s what the original The Karate Kid did. Sadly, its successor, Karate Kid: Legends… not so much.

Let’s start with the official synopsis:

“Karate Kid: Legends unites the iconic martial arts masters of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time to tell a completely new story full of action and heart. When kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) relocates to New York City with his mother to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father.

“But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.”

It's clear the formula for the last film is the expectation for this one, but what’s missing is the believability behind it. For instance, the relocation in the original film was a forced one. Daniel LaRusso is forced to move to California from New York because his mother is recently widowed and needs to provide for her kid, with any job she can find.

Moving is a traumatic event in a child’s life. It sets an emotional foundation that is easily relatable from the start. In the first few minutes of the original film, Daniel, a loner with no friends — new to Reseda and economically disadvantaged — is easily identifiable as a kid who needs a break.

By comparison, Karate Kid: Legends, Li Fong is already a promising kung fu student. His mother, a doctor (Ming-Na Wen), simply announces that they are moving form Beijing to New York to work at a new hospital. There’s no stated reason to move and it’s relatively stress-free.

Li speaks English fluently and while the synopsis states that the move is because Li needs to attend a prestigious school in the U.S., that is not made clear at all. The school is a public one. Given that he has just moved from China, Li appears very assimilated with American culture.

The film seems contrived. Li’s kung fu talent varies depending on what the story needs. When Daniel LaRusso was set upon by five black belt teens, he had no way to defend himself, forcing Mr. Miyagi’s intervention. Li is unable to protect himself against the local karate bully, Connor Day (Aramis Knight) at school, yet can fend off three adult thugs when defending his friend. That doesn’t add up.

There is a respectful and touching homage to Noriyuki “Pat” Morita and Ralph Macchio’s shared history in the beginning that outlines the relationship between Okinawan karate and kung fu (fans will remember the 1986 The Karate Kid II scene when Mr. Miyagi describes how his ancestor visited China).

It’s common historical knowledge that kung fu inspired karate, but this is highlighted to justify Jackie Chan’s presence as a kung fu Shifu in tandem with Daniel LaRusso, who, thanks to the Netflix Cobra Kai series, has gained renewed importance in the franchise’s history as the successor to Miyagi-Do karate. This is positive but not fully believable. In fact, it highlights how much Generation X loved Mr. Miyagi.

But the villain engagement isn’t believable, either. Connor Day has no redeeming qualities when we meet him; his character is two-dimensional and without background. This effectively eliminates any sense of character redemption in the future. The pretext for his animosity is incredibly vague.

While he shares the status as tournament champion with Johnny Lawrence, Johnny was a far more deserving enemy for the underdog to overcome. We knew about him, and with the impact of Cobra Kai, he has become a redeemed villain. His appearance at the end of the film is certainly appreciated.

Karate Kid: Legends does have family moments. When Li meets Mia (Sadie Stanley) and her father, Victor (Joshua Jackson), he learns that they need help. He defies his mother’s wishes for him to fight and coaches Victor. It’s notable that the student becomes a teacher in this story, but it runs contrary to the character development that Li is the one who needs the coaching. Still, it’s feel-good. Parents with kids will enjoy the call-backs and probably the chance to explain to their kids.

There’s a slight romantic thread that never really manifests, though. Stanley’s performance is fine, but she really isn’t Elizabeth Shue’s Allie. Also, another trauma that doesn’t get resolved or make sense is the villainous coach who doesn’t measure up to the likes of Martin Kove’s John Kreese. Again, no background or development. These are just a few of the contrasts that fans might notice and find lacking.

Even the appearance of Ralph Macchio’s Sensei Daniel LaRusso, while completely welcome, really doesn’t add very much in terms of the combination of both karate and kung fu that the synopsis describes. Even the tournament has a video game aspect to it that, while possibly acceptable to younger audiences, just doesn’t fit the franchise.

Karate Kid: Legends tries to live up to the level of nostalgia inspired by its predecessor but it’s really lacking. This is perhaps a film best seen at home to make allowances for the story’s inconsistencies.

When the original film came out, my own Sensei emphatically asserted that this story behind this film could never happen. Of course, people knew that. It was a movie. However, he also asserted that enrollments in his school had increased because of it. Why? Because people believed in the underdog. When Mr. Miyagi revealed the secret behind “Wax on, wax off,” it was a revelation to look for the meaning behind a lesson. It was a cultural touchstone that inspired a generation.

I’m just happy the legend of Mr. Miyagi continues. After all, who doesn’t want a Mr. Miyagi in their life?

Karate Kid: Legends. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle. Starring Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Ralph Macchio, Sadie Stanley, Joshua Jackson, Aramis Knight, Ming-Na Wen, Wyatt Oleff, and William Zabka. In theatres May 30.