The Karate Kid

The 2010 iteration of "The Karate Kid" follows the 1984 edition (and its three sequels) closely enough to make the word "predictable" seem like the understatement of the century. With Jaden Smith as the new title star and Jackie Chan taking on the role of mentor' this version has fresh blood and new appeal to a degree' but with a story so familiar' both are upstaged by the film’s breakout star: China. One of the few Hollywood films given total access to Beijing' including the Forbidden City' and the Great Wall' among other areas of the vast country' this "Kid" looks stunning' and its locations are the prime reason to head to the multiplex for a retread of a very familiar brand.

Before we are two minutes into the flick' a single mom (Taraji P. Henson) is making a big career move and dragging her reluctant son' Dre Parker (Smith)' from Detroit to their new home in Beijing' where in no time he meets cute new Chinese girlfriend Mei Ying (Wenwen Han) and slowly starts adapting to the strange new land. Unfortunately' he runs into the school bullies' led by Cheng (Zhenwei Wang)' who beat the crap out of him with their faux kung fu fighting skills. Since this kid only knows a little karate' he is no match' until he hooks up with landlord Mr. Han (Chan)' who also happens to be a secret master of the art of kung fu and eventually sets about slowly (very slowly) teaching our boy the tricks of the trade. Most of the film’s middle section is taken over by training sequences and the budding relationship of Han and Dre' until the inevitable matchup between Dre and Cheng in the kung fu championship. Problem is' it takes two hours and 20 minutes to tell this tale' and kids may find it a very long slog.

The saving grace of this remake' though' is the inspired idea to set it in China' which offers bountiful travelogue opportunities for director Harald Zwart' particularly in the otherwise routine training segments. A sequence set on seemingly never-ending stairs leading to a grand palace is truly breathtaking. Screenwriter Christopher Murphey sidesteps any political controversy or even cursory mention of China’s communist regime—no wonder producer Jerry Weintraub and his crew got such across-the-board cooperation from the government. But it might have added an intriguing wrinkle if they had tried to get at least a little politically incorrect.

Where the film also goes right is in its casting. Eleven-year-old Smith is the first karate kid to be age-appropriate for the character. (Original "kid" Ralph Macchio was 23 in 1984.) The likable Smith (producer Will’s son' of course) is a screen natural' engaging without being cloying' and very believable as an emerging master of kung fu. Chan is ideally cast' and if he doesn’t exactly erase fond memories of Noriyuki "Pat" Morita’s Oscar-nominated martial-arts guru' he acquits himself perfectly here. Impressive in the large Chinese supporting cast are the adorable Han and archnemesis Wang. Henson does her best as mom' but the role is largely underwritten and listless' never fully utilizing her considerable talents. At least she got a trip to China.


Genre: Drama
Written by Christopher Murphey
Directed by Harald Zwart
Starring Jaden Smith' Jackie Chan' Taraji P. Henson' Wenwen Han' Zhenwei Wang