Alright, so I finally caught Karate Kid: Legends in theaters last night, and I’ve got some thoughts. As a lifelong fan of the Karate Kid franchise—yep, I grew up quoting Mr. Miyagi and binging Cobra Kai—I was hyped to see Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han team up for this new chapter. Toss in a new kid, Li Fong, played by Ben Wang, and I was ready for some classic underdog vibes. Did it deliver? Well, kind of. It’s a fun, nostalgic ride with some awesome moments, but it’s also a bit of a mess. Here’s why.
The Good: Ben Wang Steals the Show, and the Nostalgia Hits Hard
First off, Ben Wang as Li Fong is a total star. This guy’s got charisma for days—he’s got that perfect mix of awkward teen energy and jaw-dropping martial arts skills. Li’s a kung fu prodigy from Beijing who moves to NYC after losing his brother, and Wang makes you feel his grief and determination without overdoing it. Every time he’s on screen, whether he’s throwing a slick dragon kick or just vibing with his new friend Mia (Sadie Stanley), you can’t look away. I’m calling it now: this dude’s gonna be a big deal.
The big draw for me was seeing Daniel and Mr. Han together, and man, when they show up, it’s pure fan service in the best way. Their scenes are like catching up with old friends—Macchio’s still got that earnest LaRusso charm, and Chan’s playful, wise Mr. Han brings the warmth. Their banter about blending Miyagi-do karate with kung fu had me grinning, and there’s a mid-credits cameo from Cobra Kai’s Johnny Lawrence (no spoilers, but it’s hilarious) that had the theater cheering. Those moments hit that sweet nostalgia spot, reminding me why I love this franchise.
I also really dug the first half of the movie. Li training Victor, this washed-up boxer played by Joshua Jackson, was such a cool twist on the usual Karate Kid formula. Jackson’s got this scruffy, lovable dad energy, and watching him try to keep up with Li’s kung fu moves was both funny and heartfelt. The romance between Li and Mia felt sweet and real, too—Sadie Stanley’s got this girl-next-door vibe that clicks. Plus, the fight scenes are legit. The tournament at the end and that rooftop showdown? Chef’s kiss. Wang’s dragon kick is straight-up balletic, and the choreography pops off.
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The Not-So-Good: Too Much Going On, Not Enough Focus
Here’s where it gets messy. The movie tries to do way too much. You’ve got Li’s grief, Victor’s debt drama, a love story, a karate tournament, and the whole Daniel-Mr. Han legacy thing crammed into 94 minutes. It feels like they shot a three-hour movie and chopped it down to fit a kid-friendly runtime. The second half ditches Victor’s story for the tournament, and I was like, “Wait, what happened to that guy?” It’s jarring, and a lot of stuff—like Li’s PTSD or Victor’s whole deal—just gets dropped.
The Daniel and Mr. Han team-up, as fun as it is, feels tacked on. They don’t show up much until the end, and when they do, the movie throws in this weird retcon about Mr. Han being tied to Mr. Miyagi. It’s based on some edited footage from Karate Kid Part II, and it felt… forced. Like, I love the idea of connecting the 2010 remake to the OG trilogy, but it came off as a corporate checkbox rather than something meaningful. I wanted more of their philosophies clashing or blending, not just a quick montage.
The bad guys are another letdown. Connor, the rival karate kid, is just a generic bully with zero depth—nothing like the complex villains in Cobra Kai. His boss, O’Shea, is supposed to be this big scary loan shark, but he’s more cartoonish than threatening. Also, the editing is weirdly choppy, with these random video game-style graphics that took me out of the story. And don’t get me started on the music—it’s all upbeat pop when the story’s dealing with heavy stuff like death and trauma. Pick a lane, you know?
Why It Matters to Me
As someone who’s half-Asian and grew up loving martial arts movies, I was stoked to see an Asian American lead in a Karate Kid film. Li’s story—moving to a new country, dealing with loss, figuring out who he is—hit home for me. It’s awesome to see representation like that, but I wish they’d leaned harder into Li’s inner struggles instead of piling on subplots. The mentorship angle, with Li learning from Han, Daniel, and Victor, is classic Karate Kid, and I liked how it showed different kinds of strength. But the movie doesn’t dig deep enough into that “two branches, one tree” idea they tease.
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Final Thoughts: Worth a Watch, But Don’t Expect a Classic
Karate Kid: Legends is a fun time, especially if you’re a fan of the franchise like me. Ben Wang is a star, the action’s great, and those nostalgic cameos hit all the right feels. But it’s also frustrating because it could’ve been so much more. The story’s all over the place, and it leans too hard on clichés instead of bringing the emotional punch of the 1984 original or the sharp writing of Cobra Kai. I had a blast watching it, but I left the theater wishing they’d slowed down and let the characters breathe.
If you’re a Karate Kid diehard or just want a quick, feel-good flick, it’s worth checking out. Maybe wait for streaming, though, unless you’re dying to see it on the big screen. I’m giving it a solid 2.5 out of 4 stars—fun, flawed, and carried by Wang’s charm. Here’s hoping the next one tightens up the focus and gives us more of that Miyagi magic.