Shadows on the Wall | Karate Kid: Legends

Karate Kid: Legends

dir Jonathan Entwistle
scr Rob Lieber; prd Karen Rosenfelt
with Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Ralph Macchio, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Wyatt Oleff, Aramis Knight, Tim Rozon, Yankei Ge, Nicholas Carella, William Zabka
release US/UK 30.May.25
25/US Columbia 1h34

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Sticking so closely to the formula that there isn't a single surprise in store, this sequel merges strands from various franchise chapters to retell exactly the same story with some knowing twists. It's a film that will never challenge the viewer, creating a comfortable vibe with sparky humour and gently entertaining call-backs. So it's perfectly watchable fluff, and it's elevated by solid turns from Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio.

When his mother (Wen) moves them from Beijing to New York, talented teenager Li (Wang) is forced to abandon his kung fu training with Han (Chan). And after the death of his brother (Ge in flashbacks), Li has promised his mother he won't fight, and will study for university entrance exams with tutor Alan (Oleff). But in secret, Li is teaching kung fu to new neighbour Victor (Jackson) while having an awkward romance with Victor's sparky daughter Mia (Stanley), whose ex-boyfriend Conor (Knight) is a brutal martial arts champion favoured to win an upcoming tournament.

Nostalgia runs heavily through this film, which opens with a clip from the 1984 original featuring Pat Morita's Mr Miyagi, whose spirit infuses the story, and the young Daniel (Macchio), who turns up in the present day to help add some karate to Li's repertoire. This ignites a gentle rivalry between Daniel and Han that fizzes hilariously as they train Li for his big confrontation. Meanwhile, director Entwistle keeps the fights surprisingly nasty, augmented by flashy stuntwork that of course includes Li's big signature move.

With his slight physicality and calmly tenacious attitude, Wang is a likeable lead, diving into a range of engaging situations to bridge big action beats and emotions that range from haunting pain to cheesy attraction. The combination works nicely to keep us rooting for Li, even though we never have any doubts. Stanley is solid as his romantic foil, while Knight and Rozon (as Conor's evil mentor) provide the necessary villainy without much nuance.

There's plenty to enjoy as Wang ricochets between Chan and Macchio. And both Jackson and Wen add some more mature gravitas around the edges. But the screenplay sticks so closely to the template that the plot can never spring to a life of its own. It's a forgettably obvious story that has little new to say, aside from the standard uplifting message about calming your personal demons before trying to take on something else. And naturally, it gets us every time.

themes, language, violence 28.May.25

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