Action comedy drama-hybrid shows like The Karate Kid always rely on a set formula: fish out of water, adapts, finds friends and love, sort out their internal conflict, fights a comically evil rival, enters fighting tournament to solve most of the conundrums they’re in (and beat up said rival), and they’re expected to win. Stuff like this is why websites like TV Tropes exist; they’re cliches but if done moderately right, they can entertain to the fullest.

Karate Kid: Legends may not be an original movie, but it has its moments of levity and entertainment. In a way, it’s just a big-screen version of a Cobra Kai spin-off that fit the 1-hour-and-40-minute runtime that would have been padded out in a limited TV/episodic streaming service serial. The film also has the added benefit of hitting the nostalgic feels for fans of these 80s films.

Jacket On, Jacket Off

Following up on the kung fu(?) film Karate Kid (2010), the new Karate Kid quickly adds a pretty-logical-for-its-continuity link between the Miyagi school of karate and kung fu; a “two branches of the same tree” philosophy that will be brought up here and there throughout the plot. We then cut to Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), now with his own kung fu school with his prodigy nephew Li Fong (Ben Wang). Li Fong has to move to New York with his mother (Ming-Na Wen) for the latter’s new job, so off he goes as a fish out of water learning the ways of New York with newfound friends Mia (love interest played by Sadie Stanley), pizzeria owner and ex-fighter Victor (Joshua Jackson), and tutor-slash-comic-relief Alan (Wyatt Olef). The latter quickly caught my attention about his off-hand remark about whether the black eye Li Fong got was from his tiger mom.

Even with that standout, all of them are captivating side characters who help put Li Fong on the path of self-improvement and amendment while also helping his pals out. In Victor’s case, he wanted to learn kung fu for an upcoming fight he can win money to pay off his debts.

Arguably the biggest surprise and the saving grace of the film is the chemistry between the two masters: Mr. Han and the OG Karate Kid himself Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) who gets called to help Li Fong karate in a week for the eventual karate tournament. The second half of the film follows the training plot beats of these underdog-styled shows, but it’s Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio stealing the show from Ben Wang, making it work with their brand of martial arts, teaching Li Fong in both insightful and slapstick fashion. Apart from Alan, most of the comedy & fun parts are from these montages with the pros. It’s a good transition from the arc already sorted with Victor and Li Fong, and would have been a nice surprise if Sony Pictures’ marketing could have been more restrained.

It’s a shame that the film adheres to the formula for its villains: they’re not exactly riveting and just are there to be the expected antagonists. These come in the mediocre form of loan shark/fighting teacher O’Shea (Tim Rozon) and star martial artist pupil Conor (Aramis Knight), who are what I call the 80s assholes with little to no depth who pick fights and do get their comeuppance.

A Fruitful Tree

Karate Kid: Legends is a familiar-yet-fun kick-punching romp with the expected feels & beats from the long-running franchise. It’s not exactly high art and original. But it is decent comfort food with some great rising stars in the mix. Also, it’s always good to see Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio banter with each other one-upping each other in a friendly fashion, elevating the show further. And you’ll also appreciate the tie-in to Netflix TV series Cobra Kai laid out in the film.

It’s not a complete knockout, but it does sweep the leg off mediocrity, winning the silver medal at least in my retro movie-pandering-loving opinion.

Final Score: 70/100