It’s nice that anyone who wants to relive the 1980s is getting to do so at the local cineplex, isn’t it? I keep expecting to see a resurgence in acid-washed jeans and hair crimpers.
These days it seems like there are more remakes, adaptations and sequels at the movie theater than original stories. I’ve spent some time chatting with friends about what old movies could viably be remade and which ones would be sinful to redo (“Harvey,” viable; “It’s a Wonderful Life,” sinful).
When it comes to the movies of my childhood, the same rules apply. Remaking “The Karate Kid” doesn’t fall into the sin category (touching “The Goonies” would), but “not offensive” isn’t a good enough reason to make a movie. The question needs to be: “Will we better the cinematic landscape by making this?” Or perhaps: “Can we give the people something they didn’t know they wanted?”
In the case of “The Karate Kid,” the answer to both those questions is no.
Like in the 1984 original, this incarnation has an adolescent (Jaden Smith stepping into Ralph Macchio’s shoes) moving to a new town (Los Angeles then, Beijing now) with his mother, coming under attack from a gang of martial arts bullies and learning from an unlikely sensei (Jackie Chan). While he’s perfectly passable, Chan is no Pat Morita, Mr. Han is certainly no Mr. Miyagi, and “hang up your jacket” can’t compare to “wax on, wax off.”
Placing the film in Beijing rather than somewhere in the states adds a nice element of culture shock, as well as some strong visuals, but calling a movie “The Karate Kid” when it’s set in China (karate is a Japanese martial art) just screams “capitalizing on a franchise.” The movie even makes the point that Dre Parker (Smith) is not learning karate but rather kung fu. Wouldn’t “The Kung Fu Kid” have been more apropos?
REVIEWED THIS WEEK* Movie: “The Karate Kid.”* Starring: Jaden Smith, Jackie Chan, Taraji P. Henson.* Rating: PG for bullying, martial arts action violence and some mild language.* Synopsis: An American adolescent (Smith) moves to China with his mother and becomes the target of local bullies when he falls for a pretty classmate. An unlikely master (Chan) teaches him the ways of kung fu.
The movie is helmed by Harald Zwart, who makes a grand improvement over his last directorial effort, “The Pink Panther 2,” but that’s kind of like saying getting punched in the face is a grand improvement over being kneed in the groin.
Of course, no one cares who directed, only that Will and Jada Pinkett Smith produced and that their son stars. It would be a charming family affair if only young Jaden had any charm about him, but the child is really quite insufferable. He has a constant air of petulance and cockiness that radiates off the screen. In his younger, Fresh Prince days, Will Smith also had an air of cockiness, but it was infused with a goofiness that made him appealing.
Sometimes, talent and screen presence can be passed through bloodlines. But some dynasties are simply not meant to be.