'Karate Kid: Legends' Portrayed in an Unusual, Unfavorable Light
The latest instalment in the beloved Karate Kid franchise, Karate Kid: Legends, has received criticism for its lacklustre character development and plot cohesion, despite attempts to revitalise the series with new characters and twists.
The film struggles to define a central protagonist, with the narrative focus scattering between Li Fong, Victor, and a larger ensemble. This lack of clarity leaves audiences struggling to invest emotionally in any single character's journey. Moreover, while Li Fong is likable and relatable, especially in moments of processing trauma, the script offers him little depth, and other characters remain thinly drawn, lacking meaningful arcs that allow them to grow or challenge the protagonist.
The plot also suffers from scattered storytelling, with themes such as training, redemption, and generational conflict shifting awkwardly without allowing any one to develop fully. As a result, the narrative lacks momentum and emotional payoff. The pacing is slow and unfocused, especially in the first half, and training montages and climactic fights feel rushed and erratic, leaving little time for meaningful reflection or closure.
Additionally, the movie suffers from a weak central conflict, with minimal tension and stakes. Unlike earlier Karate Kid films, which centred on well-defined conflicts, this installment muddles its central challenge, resulting in a flat, predictable plot that fails to elevate the story above generic action.
Furthermore, the movie relies heavily on fan service and callbacks to previous installments, at the expense of building a coherent, original story. This distracts from the development of new characters and plotlines, making the story feel derivative rather than fresh.
Despite the attempts to revitalise the franchise, Karate Kid: Legends fails to deliver the strong character arcs and cohesive storytelling that made the original films memorable. The movie, directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber, does not aspire to elevate the franchise as expected.
Io9's review of Karate Kid: Legends criticizes the film for its lack of character development, stating that the narrative focus is scattered among multiple characters and none of them are given meaningful arcs or depth. Gizmodo also shares this opinion, asserting that the film's reliance on fan service and callbacks to previous installments hinder the development of new characters and plotlines, making the story feel derivative rather than fresh. In terms of the future of the franchise, these reviews raise concerns about the ability of Karate Kid: Legends to live up to the strong character arcs and cohesive storytelling of the original films.
