This requel is no equal to 40 years of predecessors in the triumphant underdog series, but the good-natured, proven crowd-pleasing formula will still likely delight young viewers and families. Jonathan Entwistle’s Karate Kid: Legends (C+) places casually charismatic young actor Ben Wang at its center, transplanted from Beijing to NYC with a non-emotive mother (Ming-Na Wen) who doesn’t support his kung fu fighting hobby. His character befriends a pizza parlor purveyor and former boxer played by Joshua Jackson and his teen daughter and love interest (Sadie Stanley); and when wronged by an underdeveloped neighborhood bully, feisty fighter and romantic rival character (Aramis Knight), our hero turns to two mentors in the lineage of the “Mr. Miyagi” school of karate – Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio – to prepare him for an avenging “Five Boroughs” showdown. This merging of martial arts multiverses prompts some head-scratching force-fits, and the color-by-numbers story line fails in delivering even the smallest morsels of surprise. Still, the movie is upbeat, with some fun, fast-paced fighting stunts and joy in the relaxed depictions of found family especially – and surprisingly – between Wang and Jackson, who’s particularly good in this role. The obligatory presence of Chan and Macchio yields distracting and perfunctory doses of fan service rather than consequential plot advancement.  It’s all more pretty than gritty and looks largely filmed on sound stages. Video gamified graphics, comic book dissolves and animated explainers dumb down the drama even further for those with zero attention span. It’s all perfectly serviceable fare and doesn’t wax all that poetic as it strikes its predetermined poses.

My video review: FilmThirst – Karate Kid Legends