Film Review The Karate Kid 
PG. USA 2010. 140 mins. Director: Harald Zwart. Cast: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P Henson, Wenwen Hang
Film Review: The Karate Kid
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A whole generation will look back fondly on the unlikely 80s classic The Karate Kid and wax-on/wax-off lyrical about the story of a western boy overcoming bullying by learning the moves and honour behind martial arts. In some ways, its timeless premise makes it ideal for reworking for a more modern audience. However, it’s somewhat ironic that you’ll find nary a chop of genuine karate in this latest re-imagining.
Jaden Smith (yes, Will’s son) inherits the ‘kid’ role from Ralph Macchio, with stalwart Jackie Chan arguably the only person who could ever be as ironic as Pat Morita’s Mr Miyagi. In this case Smith is Dre, whisked away from rundown Detroit to China when his single mother gets a job offer she cannot refuse. Chan is their building’s janitor, Mr Hang, usually keeping himself to himself after tragedies in his own past. Dre catches the eye of local girl Mei Ying (Hang) and therefore the wrath of the local school kids who soundly knock him into the middle of next week. Reluctantly Chan takes the boy under his wing and teaches him not only how to fight, but how not to.
This modern take on the story combines many of the elements of the first two original movies and lifts several key scenes and dialogue wholesale – but with some nice variations thrown in aswell. Smith is engaging enough – clearly putting in the requisite physical work – and Chan rarely disappoints, here treading familiar territory and yet adding some genuine depth and wry humour.
In a busy summer and often cynical marketplace, this new Karate Kid (here practising kung-fu throughout, making the title something of a franchise-hugging misnomer) has its heart and fists in the right place and if geared for less-demanding younger audiences, at least sends them a wholesome but never boring message of tolerance.
On general release 28th July
Posted on Wednesday 21st July 2010
John Mosby
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