Review of Karate Kid: Legends ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Karate Kid: Legends is clearly made with a modern audience in mind, which is evident from many of the editorial and stylistic choices throughout the film. While it’s undeniably a bit of a hot mess, it’s also incredibly enjoyable. I had a really fun time watching it.
Ben Wang is a standout—he’s absolutely going to be a star. He’s the heart of the film and holds it together beautifully. You genuinely care about his character and his journey. He’s charismatic, compelling, and has a bright future ahead of him.
That said, the film suffers from trying to do too much. It feels like two movies crammed into one: the “Fight of the Five Boroughs” storyline and the subplot involving Joshua Jackson’s character, who owns a pizza restaurant. Choosing one narrative and focusing on it would’ve made for a stronger, more cohesive film.
There are just too many plotlines—loan sharks, a dead brother, immigration from China to America, school issues, identity struggles, family dynamics. It’s a lot to fit into a 90-minute movie, and as a result, some of these threads feel underdeveloped or unnecessary.
One of the film’s strongest aspects is the relationship between Joshua Jackson’s character and his daughter, Mia and that of Li, the chemistry is fantastic and brings real emotional depth to the story.
The fight choreography is another highlight. The martial arts on display—both Kung Fu and Karate—are top-notch and make you appreciate the genre all over again. The action sequences are slick, exciting, and incredibly well-done.
Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan are welcome nostalgic additions, and it’s great to see their characters come together to train Ben. However, their screen time is limited—about 20 to 25 minutes of the total runtime—which might disappoint fans expecting a larger role for them.
Ending is 100% aimed at a younger audience with a ADHD fever dream on display of bright lights and loud sounds if I was 10 I would think this was the best thing since sliced bread. ( “Sliced bread coming out the previous year “- Abraham Simpson)
If you’re a fan of the Karate Kid franchise, you’ll likely get a kick out of this (no pun intended). It’s a brisk, entertaining film with excellent fight scenes. But if you’re looking for the next martial arts classic, this isn’t quite it.
Still, it’s a fun time at the cinema. Go check it out if you get the chance.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
Peace.
