Karate Kid: Legends – I Got a “Kick” Out of It!

I am a huge “Karate Kid” (KK) fan.  This is the 6th film of the franchise, and I have seen them all (and the first 3 twice!)  I also loved the now-iconic Netflix series, “Kobra Kai,” which sadly had its series finale this year after 6 seasons!  The movies and Netflix shows are all formulaic, but so what?  So is “Coca-Cola!”  Here’s the formula, which fans of this franchise will never tire of:
–1: Likable teenage boy needs to move, but would rather stay where he is.
–2: In the new location, he meets a nice girl and they become friends, with other possibilities.
–3: The boy gets bullied by another teenager who knows,  and is good at, karate.
–4: The boy must fight back and gets a great Sensei to mentor him.
–5: The boy enters a karate tournament, which will start very soon, and, despite unbelievable odds, wins it!
–6: The film has an uplifting message, with a “feel good” ending.
This film follows the above formula, and does so quite well.  It has likable stars and well-choreographed martial arts scenes.

Li Fong (Ben Wang) is a teenager living in Beijing.  Li Fong is being taught Kung Fu by Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), a great Kung Fu master.  Li Fong’s mother (Ming-Na Wen) is a doctor who got a job in NYC, so they have to move.  She doesn’t want Li Fong involved in any martial arts, and this is one reason why she took the new job.  They arrive in Chinatown, and Li Fong meets Mia (Sadie Stanley) and her dad, Victor (Joshua Jackson), who run a pizza parlor.  Li Fong and Mia become friends, but Mia’s ex-boyfriend, Connor (Aramis Knight), wants her back.  He is very skilled at karate and is being taught by an evil sensei.  Connor now hates Li Fong and kicks his butt on the high school grounds.

Victor has borrowed money from a loan shark and hasn’t been able to pay off his debt.  The loan shark then sends thugs to beat Victor to a pulp, but Victor is saved by Li Fong (who turns out to be better at Kung Fu than he appeared to be in his fight against Connor)!

Eventually, Mr. Han comes to NYC to enlist Daniel (Ralph Macchio) to teach Li Fong “Miyagi Do” karate, to combine it with the Kung Fu Li Fong already knows.  As luck would have it, there is a big “5 Boroughs” karate tournament starting in a week.  Li Fong enters it, for multiple reasons.  Conner has won the tournament a few times and is the heavy favorite to win it again.  Furthermore, there is considerable prize money for the winner, enough to pay off Victor’s debt on the pizza parlor.

It’s new wine in an old bottle, but the wine is first-rate and well worth drinking, if you are a KK fan.  Ben Wang is terrific as Li Fong, and I predict that he will have a successful career.  If you don’t like KK movies, I’ll “go to the mat” defending them!