Jaden Smith stars in this 2010 reworking.
I only got around to watching the original Karate Kid in 2008. I don’t know what I was doing when I was a youngster but I guess Ralph Maccio wasn’t part of it. The film’s classic 80s-ness has markedly dated it but the underlying triumph of the underdog story is an enduring classic. I guess that’s why it’s been remade for a new bunch of youngsters to fall in love with.
Harold Zwart (Pink Panther 2, Agent Cody Banks) takes up the director’s chair for this one, not exactly the greatest pedigree. Couple that with Jaden Smith in the lead role and an aging Jackie Chan and the film seemed set-up to fail. Well I can happily report that the film is just as much a guilty pleasure as the original.
The plot is almost identical, just shifted to a Chinese setting, the spiritual home of kung fu. Smith plays Dre Parker, who moves to Beijing with his mother (Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) in the pursuit of new opportunities (I could say something here about China being the new ‘American Dream’ but I won’t). Dre, depressed at being in a strange new world strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mei Ying, a talented violin player. Bad move buddy as this really pisses off Cheng, a family friend who has an obvious crush on her. Long story short – Dre gets badly beaten up, only to be rescued by Mr. Han, his apartment janitor who also happens to be a martial arts master. Funny that. He takes him under his wing and agrees to show Dre the art of kung fu, as he prepares to fight Cheng in an upcoming tournament.
While my initial fears seemed to be confirmed in the first 10 minutes with some very awkward acting and stilted dialogue this soon passed as the movie focussed in on the relationship between Mr. Han and Dre, who seemed very comfortable on screen together. Jackie Chan may be getting on in years at 56 but he still knows how to dish out a serious ass-whipping. Hopefully Jaden Smith will follow the Dakota Fanning route of child-stars, as he seems to have the same charisma and charm that’s made his father such a star.
I could mark the movie down for being a travel advertisement for China (it received $5million funding from the government…) but regardless, it’s refreshing to see China as a landscape portrayed in a Western move. Both modern and ancient marvels are in full display, from the Shaolin Temple to The Birdcage. And while they are impressive, both pale in comparison to the grandeur of the Wudang Mountains. It’s hard to resist getting out that Lonely Planet guidebook when you see Dre and Han climbing thousands of steep stone steps to reach the Golden Summit temple.
The film isn’t going to get any marks for originality but the old saying runs true, if it ain’t broke… And while the film is long, at significantly over 2 hours I didn’t look at my watch once. The chemistry between Chan and Smith, as well as the undeniably gorgeous scenery had me captivated and for once this is a remake that has proved its right to exist.
3 1/2 Stars
Andrew Cozens