The Karate Kid – 3*
It’s the week for the remakes. All those fond childhood memories of TV and films from the 80s, and for some of us fans, a nervous wait to see what’s been done to our beloved characters that were so iconic at the time. So, although The A-Team got a bit of a kicking, there is something quite charming to be had by Harald Zwart’s version of The Karate Kid (2010) – even if it could have done with a bit of a trim here and there.
This version seems to fill its predecessor’s big boots, both in acting, script and scenery, taking on all the trappings of a big budget epic, but keeping its personable and stirring side, far more than the original did in places, in fact. Yes, little Jaden Smith as Dre Parker has the all the charisma and get-up-and-go expected from a 12-year-old starlet from a famous acting couple (the Smiths), and he does handle the emotional moments incredibly well for his years, in both poise and timing, but it’s Jackie Chan as Mr Han who steers proceedings on course and gets the real crux of the story going. In fact, the plot up until Mr Han puts his oar in with the bullies is in danger of going a little flat and clichéd. Even though Smith does his best to flesh out his character and portray how Dre feels moving far from home to a strange city and culture, Smith alone doesn’t have the acting presence to carry the story on much further after this point. Hence the editing suggestion above…
In some of the most bone-cracking and visually physical fight scenes seen in any kids’ film that actually border on child abuse (with many a ‘look away’ moment), Chan still manages to ‘lighten the mood to maim’ between the kids in the most controlled, but humour-filled and sweet-natured way. It’s a play of contradictions: one minute you wince horribly as one kid knocks ten bells out of another, like watching a disturbingly realistic video game, then chuckle manically as the playful Mr Chan disperses a whole gaggle of intense kiddie ‘killing machines’. Perhaps this is down to the cartoon-style kung fu and his standard, fun-loving characters that he’s associated with, or some clever direction from Zwart, in that he shows ‘warts and all’ to highlight the impact of bullying, then brings the humour straight back with the arrival of wise-cracking clown Chan. That said Chan gets to demonstrate some impressive tormented moments in a diverse character spectrum that compliments Smith’s performance. Both actors are very well cast opposite each other.
The Karate Kid also serves as a nice little present-day case study of interracial harmony in communist China – naturally, with all the best, fluffy bits of living in such a vibrant and developing nation rolled out for all Western audiences’ eyes to see. It’s almost like a video postcard, a national advertisement with its modern and historical scenery that will have some considering a visit to the country after watching the film. Others could cynically add that it’s propaganda peddling, mixed up in a coming-of-age drama. Or, perhaps, this is reading too much into it? It certainly crossed the mind.
Smith Jr., like Smith Snr., has inherited all of Dad’s on- (and off) screen likeability, so placed with goofy Chan they produce an entertaining dynamic in a remake that could actually be better than its legacy, in some respects, with superior writing, direction and action sequences – well worth catching at the cinema for its values, humility and inspiration. The Karate Kid is like this year’s kung fu Step Up or StreetDance for all its young characters’ dedication and choreography.
3/5 stars
By L G-K
