Seasoned moviegoers see the word “legends” in the title of a long-running (40 years) franchise as a red flag. First, the filmmakers couldn’t come up with a better name for their retread, second, they will have unearthed the former stars of previous iterations and give them squat to do except appear on the poster, and third and least surprising, it will be the same generic plot, but this time probably AI-generated and even dumber.

Those easily entertained individuals who will come away with anything at all from this opportunistic cash-grab will have of course seen all the sequels and remakes. There are about half a dozen. (The second of which, Karate Kid Part 2, I actually listed as “Best Bad Movie About Japan” in a guidebook I wrote. Absolutely hilarious) And don’t forget all the Kobra Kai TV spinoffs.

Pat Morita died a while back, so Jackie Chan slid in to do sensei duty for the 2010 remake. And this time even Ralph Macchio shows up, if only to show that his acting hasn’t improved. (Neither, apparently, has his politics; at 63, he’s reportedly now a full-blown MAGA moron.) He mostly stands around wondering
what he’s doing there, but he does get to say his signature line, “I don’t understand,” which he does very convincingly.

Anyway, the trope checklist: young karate student, devoted and wise teacher, psychopathically cruel counterpart from a rival dojo, cute love interest to defend, caring but disapproving mother, big-deal final fight. This unsteady blivot (look it up) also throws in several rushed and unfinished sub-plots that serve no purpose other than to stretch the runtime out to 94 minutes.

Say something nice, Don. The film’s saving grace is the casting of energetic and likable newcomer Ben Wang in the title role. And Ming Na Wen and Sadie Stanley (the mom and the girlfriend) avoid embarrassing themselves. (94 min)

Read our review of Ballerina here.