The problem with “Karate Kid: Legends� is right there in the title: “legends,� as in multiple. Many beloved “Karate Kid� characters and icons of millennial sports movies enter the ring, but in the ensuing melee, no one emerges victorious.
Written by Rob Lieber and directed by Jonathan Entwistle, “Karate Kid: Legends� is another revamp of the franchise, which now boasts four movies from the 1980s and '90s, an animated series, a 2010 remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, and a long-running Netflix spinoff series, “Cobra Kai,� following the original characters, now adults. This new film is a “lega-sequel� if you will, combining characters from both the original film and the recent remake, with a new setting: the Big Apple.
This is a light and breezy affair with a few unexpected twists, some social commentary that doesn’t entirely land, and it might not have enough staying power for it to be truly memorable. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: 'Clown in a Cornfield' a light, breezy slasher
This flick isn’t a masterpiece, not even a vulgar one, but it’s cheeky and entertaining enough in its giddy hyper-violence, thanks almost entirely to the star turn of Josh Hartnett, who has proven in his recent renaissance that he’s especially great in bozo mode. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: Josh Hartnett saves 'Fight or Flight' from crash landing
This one will likely only appeal to fans of the genre who appreciate reverence and twists on this kind of material, but it’s bloody � if lightweight � fun for those who enjoy this kind of good old-fashioned romp in the woods. -- Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service Read moreMovie Review: 'Until Dawn' a gory romp in the woods
