Karate Kid Legends movie review: Jackie Chan, Ben Wang film is worth rooting for
There are few greater pleasures than watching Jackie Chan do his thing. Pair him up with Ralph Macchio, and it could be Karate Kid from 40 years ago all over again.
But just because it could, doesn't mean it is. Legends has the moves and lands its karate kid on his feet – but it flutters rather than floats like a butterfly and pricks rather than stings like a bee. So if you are not expecting heady knockouts, there are enough handy knockabouts for the film to seal its place in this franchise. Apart from the fact, of course, that it has veterans Chan and Macchio.
This time round, the kid being bullied whom karate / kung fu will rescue is Li Fong (Wang), who has been plucked from Mr Han's (Chan's) academy in Beijing and brought to New York by his doctor mother (Wen). She doesn't want him fighting for reasons that become clear by and by.
But, of course, there is no avoiding destiny for Li, who due to his double-quick friendship with a friendly neighbourhood pizza owner and daughter (Jackson, Stanley) lands right in the midst of the Big Apple's karate scene.
Watch Karate Kid Legends movie trailer:
There are absolutely no surprises in Legends or its story curve, from the time of the meet cute between Li and Mia (Stanley), to her sulking ex-boyfriend (Knight), to the fights that Li loses, to the entry of Han and LaRusso (Macchio) just when needed, to even the kick that finally sets the universe right.
The trick then lies in making us believe in Li, which Wang pulls off with ease. And ease is what Legends is all about, like the comfort of a regular pepperoni pizza, which has several big moments in the film.
As he is wont to, Han offers several aphorisms to his young protege, one of them being: 'In life, there is only one question: Is something worth fighting for?'
Karate Kid, certainly, is worth rooting for.
Karate Kid Legends movie cast: Ben Wang, Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight
Karate Kid Legends movie director: Jonathan Entwistle
Karate Kid Legends movie rating: 3 stars
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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
Karate Kid Legends box office collection day 4: Jackie Chan's film earns only 65% of what Thunderbolts made on its first Monday
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India Today
2 days ago
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Jackie Chan was 40 when he learnt his father was a spy: My original name is Fong
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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Karate Kid Legends box office collection day 2: Jackie Chan's film witnesses 29% growth, earns Rs 2.06 crore
Karate Kid Legends box office collection day 2: Karate Kid Legends hit the screens on May 30 and opened to a decent response at the Indian box office. It earned Rs 1.6 crore (nett) on the first day despite receiving mixed reviews. The martial arts drama witnessed some growth on its first Saturday (May 31), emerging as the top choice of the franchise's ardent fans. Karate Kid Legends witnesses growth on first Saturday Karate Kid Legends, starring the legendary Jackie Chan, has made a decent impact at the box office despite failing to impress critics. According to Sacnilk, a trade website, it earned Rs 2.06 crore on the second day. This figure is nearly 29% higher than the Rs 1.6 crore it made on the opening day. Here is the day-wise breakdown: Day 1: Rs 1.6 crore Day 2: Rs 2.06 crore The film's total collection stands at Rs 3.66 crore. Karate Kid Legends holds a rating of 58% on the aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, which indicates mixed reviews. It remains to be seen whether the average word-of-mouth affects the film on weekdays. Is Karate Kid Legends available on OTT Karate Kids Legends is currently not available on any streaming platform. It will, however, eventually premiere on Netflix. The streaming platform has a deal with Sony, the company behind the Karate Kid franchise. Karate Kids Legends is expected to premiere on OTT in September but the official date is yet to be announced. Karate Kid Legends is a martial arts drama directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film revolves around a Kung Fu prodigy who tries enhance his skills to take part in a prestigious competition. The latest Karate Kid film stars Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, and Ben Wang. Dominic Lewis serves as the music director.
