Written by Sam Clark 

Certificate: 12A

Running time: 94 minutes 

Director: Jonathan Entwistle 

As has just been demonstrated with ''Final Destination: Bloodlines'', bringing back franchises that haven't been on our screens for at least a decade is a risk (fourteen-years with ''Bloodlines'', fifteen for this). It's one thing trying (and often struggling and failing) to come up with a new avenue and direction you haven't tried yet, but that's even before you get down to whether or not people care anymore. It is unclear what 2010's version was starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith, but I think the safest thing you could call that was ''remake'', and even that itself looked like it was potentially trying to start something back up again (no film since indicates something).

The question now remains: in the same way ''Final Destination: Bloodlines'' was, is ''The Karate Kid'' franchise still enough of a cherished classic to bring people back once again? This could also be said for any series we have not seen for years. If you were wondering, the first film came out in 1984, and we are now on film number six (and a TV show), so make of that what you will. Jonathan Entwistle (making his feature debut) directs here from a script by Rob Lieber (who wrote 2018's ''Peter Rabbit).

Ben Wang stars as ''Li Fong'', a young kung-fu prodigy who is forced to move to New York with his mother (Ming-Na Wen) after a family tragedy. In usual ''Karate Kid'' fashion, he struggles to adapt to his new life and classes, but finds solace in the local karate scene. But more specifically, a karate competition. He makes a new friend called  ''Mia'' played by Sadie Stanley, whose father (Joshua Jackson) runs a struggling pizza joint that is in debt to a local gang. ''Li'' joins the competition to help pay the money back.

Photo credit: IMDb/ Sony / Columbia Pictures

In order to help him win the tournament, he receives training from his mentor ''Mr. Han'' (Jackie Chan reprising his role from the last film) and the very first ''karate kid'' himself ''Daniel LaRusso'' (Ralph Macchio). The stage is set: let the kung-fu commence once more! ''Karate Kid: Legends'' is perfectly serviceable, but it does tread a fine line in terms of being something new for us to see, but also something like would have benefitted from more originality. Were it not for the fantastic martial arts sequences which are by far the best of the franchise with very impressive choreography and execution (which were always going to be the most impressive thing and the main selling point thanks to second unit director Peng Zhang), this would have been a let down unfortunately. But are good set pieces enough to sustain an entire film? 

When bringing back characters who have not been on our screens for a long time, it's always hard to make it and them look convincing and it just about works here, only just. Jackie Chan works here as he fits within the film's plot, but I just can't quite say the same for with Ralph Macchio. When he's not featured in these films since the third one in 1989, bringing him back and making him fit was always going to prove the hardest, and does show desperation. He doesn't show up until at least half way through and he's instead just feels like a filler in of sorts, a familiar face thrown in there for the sake of it. There are moments in which I didn't at all mind his presence, but I am not entirely convinced his return was completely necessary.  

Photo credit: IMDb / Sony / Columbia Pictures

I do think there is plenty of heart in the story (for which I was perfectly engaged with), yet I could not help but still feel a sense of emptiness and repetition (treading that fine line again). The story here is the exact one we had with the last film - bar one change. But this is the story ''The Karate Kid'' was built upon, so changing it now would be foolish and pointless. But here, that has proved to be it's enemy. Trying something entirely fresh would have perhaps been more beneficial as this is almost a direct remake of the 2010 version as well as borrowing from other instalments. At one point, I did think to myself: ''Oh, we have to fight the bully at the school again do we? Fine. Oh, he's from the evil and bad dojo? Okay''. It was, by this point, where I had accepted this for what it was, a bit of a lose-lose situation. 

Almost every character gets a decent amount of screen time behind them, except for the mum, who I thought would've been one of the priorities. She is surprisingly underused here and, after while, begins to only pop up every now and then. Her character is the heart and center of the piece and the reason why the whole film is happening, and yet she isn't treated like that. The more time she was out of the film and then re-appeared briefly just felt very forced and awkward. It is almost as if the film was aware it was wasting and forgetting about one of the main characters, and just shoved her in where it would work. 

I would say this ''Karate Kid'' entry felt as though it was playing rather young, despite it's 12A certificate and sequences of fighting. It has quite a poppy and dancey soundtrack as well, with a new addition of animated graphics that pop up arcade game style that will visually appeal to a young crowd. I would describe it as a street fighting, video game brought to life, which is rather fitting of the franchise I suppose and the first time they've done that. If this an attempt at giving the series some visual flare, spark and trying to get in a young audience who are new to the series, then job well done. 

''Where do we go from here?'' was the first and only thing on my mind after ''Final Destination: Bloodlines'', and you can't blame me for thinking that here as well. I would say that ''The Karate Kid'' franchise currently has more legs...but not by much. Despite the flaws, I am still remaining optimistic. 

In cinemas now