TLDR;
The reviewer discusses "Karate Kid Legends," a film that initially presents a unique storyline involving a young kung fu student helping his friend's father, a former boxer, but quickly devolves into a nostalgia-driven narrative with cameos from Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. The movie attempts to blend elements from previous Karate Kid installments and Cobra Kai, but ultimately feels disjointed and unmemorable due to its overstuffed plot and underdeveloped characters. The reviewer praises the initial boxing subplot but criticizes the generic tournament ending and the film's reliance on familiar tropes.
- The movie starts with an interesting plot about teaching Kung Fu to boxer but quickly changes to nostalgia bait.
- Jackie Chan and Ralph Machio cameos felt forced.
- The movie has too many characters and plotlines, making it feel disjointed and unmemorable.
Introduction [0:00]
The reviewer introduces "Karate Kid Legends," noting its delayed release and its status as a remake or "incontinuity retelling" of the Karate Kid story. The film involves a kid who moves from Beijing to New York and is already a student of Mr. Han (from the 2010 Karate Kid film). He meets a girl, which leads to conflict with her martial arts-skilled ex-boyfriend, setting up a familiar narrative.
Initial Plot and Interesting Elements [0:17]
The initial plot involves the protagonist's friend/love interest's father, played by Joshua Jackson, who owns a pizza place and is in debt to dangerous individuals. The protagonist teaches the father kung fu to enhance his boxing skills, aiming to help him win a fight, save his business, and resolve his debt. The reviewer found this storyline interesting and a unique take on the Karate Kid formula, highlighting the idea of a student becoming a teacher and the potential for youth to teach older individuals new skills.
Shift to Nostalgia and Cameos [2:07]
The movie shifts focus by introducing Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, who team up to train the protagonist by combining their martial arts styles for a tournament. The reviewer criticizes this transition, viewing it as a move towards cheap nostalgia rather than continuing the fresh narrative. Jackie Chan's character is tied to the Miyagi family through a clip from "Karate Kid 2," while Ralph Macchio's appearance feels like a brief, easy paycheck.
Lost Plot and Underdeveloped Characters [2:53]
The reviewer admits to forgetting the specific reason for the protagonist entering the tournament, despite the theme of facing one's enemy. The movie's plot becomes less memorable, possibly due to its lack of focus. With the introduction of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, Joshua Jackson's character is sidelined, and the love interest is pushed into the background. The romantic connection, which was initially believable, loses importance.
Disappointing Tournament and Disjointed Story [3:54]
The final tournament is fast-tracked with a montage, lacking the impact of the original Karate Kid montages. The end fight is decent but not as engaging as the earlier boxing match. The reviewer suggests the movie feels like two separate scripts were combined, resulting in a disjointed narrative. The film is relatively short, around 90 minutes including credits, but still feels overstuffed with too many characters and plotlines.
Overcrowded Narrative and Familiar Tropes [5:07]
The movie has too many characters, including the protagonist's mother, who is also pushed to the background. The reviewer notes that the protagonist's existing kung fu skills are a positive aspect, but the concept of fusing martial arts styles for a tournament feels repetitive, similar to elements in Cobra Kai. The movie abandons its initial novelty in favor of familiar tropes that have been executed better in other productions. The reviewer concludes that the movie is forgettable.
Additional Criticisms [6:25]
The reviewer also points out the distracting edits in the movie, which detract from the viewing experience.