Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres this Friday from director Jonathan Entwistle and Sony Pictures is the story of a boy and two men who want to help the KARATE KID: Legends.

Li Fong (Ben Wang) is a young man studying Kung Fu with Shifu Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) in Beijing. Mom (Ming-Na Wen) is a doctor about to be transferred to New York City much to the dismay of Li who doesn’t want to leave the wuguan or Mr. Han and is still dealing with the loss of a family member. Once in New York, Li and his mother try to settle in and within a few hours he has his first friend Mia (Sadie Stanley) who works in her father Victor’s (Joshua Jackson) pizza joint.

His first days at school provide to be difficult as well when Connor Day (Aramis Knight), the local karate champion, decides to test Li’s ability to defend himself. Mom is none to pleased with what has happened having made Li promise not to fight. She refocuses Li’s attention to his studies by getting him an S.A.T. tutor in Alan (Wyatt Oleff). Li plays along but also makes time to hang out with Mia and making friends with her father. Victor was once a fighter of another kind and now wants to do it again to pay back a debt. After seeing what Li can do, Victor wants Li to train him up!

When things start to go badly, Mr. Han arrives in New York just in time to see that Li is having a difficulties. That’s when Mr. Han sees a flyer for a tournament and knows it will help the young man in so many ways but – he needs help. Flying to Los Angeles, he meets up with Daniel La Russo at the Miyagi-do and explains that he was once very good friends of Mr. Miyagi. Daniel is pleased to hear that his former teacher remembered him fondly to Mr. Han. Now, Mr. Han wants Daniel to do for Li, what Mr. Miyagi did for him.

Now, Li has a chance to mix Kung Fu with Karate and not only show what he is capable of but also the possibility of reconciling his fears – but can he do that?

Wang as Li is a very charming young man with a contagious smile and wonderful sense of humor. Dealing with the past, he agrees not to fight for his mother’s sake but the streets of New York have other ideas. Almost immediately he is defending himself and others around him but the one person who preys on his weakness is the one he must fight in a tournament. He also finds himself with a bit of a crush on the pizza guys daughter. Wang takes up the kid’s mantle and does it proud.

Chan as Mr. Han has a sense of humor and shows that even at the ripe age of 71, he has moves and isn’t afraid to show them. He gives his character the dedication in helping Li knowing what weighs heavy on his heart. Reaching out to another who can also understand the boys’ feelings, Chan is equally as funny and plays up his part and I loved every minute of it. Chan may not have the box office draw as in his early career, but this role was made for him to play and I am thrilled people will see what he has to offer in the Karate Kid franchise (and it erases the 2010 fiasco).

Macchio returns as LaRusso and although happy to meet Mr. Chan, doesn’t believe that he can help Li in a tournament. Yet, LaRusso finds himself on a rooftop explaining karate to Li and training him to fight his biggest adversary – Connor Day! Macchio’s character is so iconic that it seems only fitting that he be there for Li and the support he gives reminds us that in 1984, the same training and support was given to him. He understands the young man and that proves to be so important, especially when it is LaRusso who comes up with the gameplan (which may be familiar as well). Macchio seems to embrace the fact that he is forever superglued to the character of LaRusso and he makes it look so easy. That might also be the fact that he has spent the last six years being part of the Netflix series COBRA KAI (another of my family’s favorites) and returning to the film franchise works so perfectly.

Stanley as Mia is a young girl who is going through something similar as LaRusso’s young love Ali back in the day. She works with her father and finds herself surprisingly attracted to Li. It must be said they are cute together and it works on the screen. Stanley’s character worries for her father and when she begins to understand what Li is doing, joins the support team. Jackson as Dad Victor has a sense of humor and his character wants what is best for his daughter. A friendship also blooms between Victor and Li which was so lovely to see. Jackson gives a nice go-between character of the boxing world and a little bit of kung fu which stuns in the ring.

Knight as Connor is a kid with issues and trusting the wrong person to train him. His bully tactics may work on others but Li refuses to let it stand. Oleff as Alan is a character and made the audience laugh many times. He may be tutoring calculous to Li, but he’s becoming more of a friend than he expected. Wen as Li’s Mom is a doctor who wants her son to stay out of trouble and study to be able to go to college. When she discovers Li is fighting, “Mom’-ness kicks in and she is not happy. She has her reasons for being afraid for Li to get involved in fighting and tournaments which is revealed in the film.

KARATE KID: Legends is more than I expected! First of all, it is so nostalgic, especially for this mom who took her kids in 1984 to see THE KARATE KID and after that nothing was safe in my house. My sons immediately wanted to take karate lessons and that lasted for some time. There was something about the character of LaRusso that was so relatable to kids then and now he is a familiar character that is delightful to see as an adult. Most of us grew up with Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi to the point where lines from the film have become part of our lexicon. “Wax on, wax off” is a prime example and I have seen people try to catch a fly with chopsticks just to see if it was possible.

In this film, the new Daniel is Li Fong and between Mr. Han and LaRusso, Fong gets the best of both worlds and in the process have found a new Shifu and Sensei at the same time. But they aren’t the only friends Li makes. A new kid on the block, as it were, find friendship in Mia, Victor and Alan quickly and it works. The story moves at a fast pace and follows the 1984 formula and I’m not mad about it. It worked then and it works now and yes, it’s probably for nostalgia’s sake that it does and there is nothing wrong with that. KARATE KID: Legends is fun, charming, a bit brutal, and takes on the themes of friendship, life, sad events and loyalty to the love of martial arts.

For all those who long for the simpler times and a film that probably caused them to try and chop a piece of wood in half, then get to the theatres this Friday and find that kid again. Embrace two cultures, a kid with martial arts talent and two men who believed in him. Prepare to have a grand time at the movies this weekend.

In the end – when masters unite a new legacy begins!

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