“Karate Kid: Legends” is an enjoyable movie from start to finish. It breaks no new ground, but has likeable characters and homages to the past that make the somewhat predictable story shine on screen. Despite its sometime violent action, it is nonetheless a winning family film sure to appeal to both adults and children.

In a flashback to 1986, Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki “Pat” Tomita) is telling Daniel (Ralph Macchio) about the development of Miyagi karate. Its founder ended up in China where he learned martial arts and returned to Okinawa with his newly developed personal style.

Cut to modern-day Beijing. Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) is leading classes at his kung fu dojo. He gets a phone call that the mother of Li Fong (Ben Wang) is arriving to see her son. Li hides from Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen) as she tells Han that she has accepted a job in New York City. Li will accompany her whether he likes it or not.

Mother and son arrive in the Big Apple to their new apartment. Li starts to set up his room and then goes out for pizza. He goes to a parlor owned by Victor Lipani (Joshua Jackson) and asks for stuffed-crust pizza. He is mocked for his request until Victor’s daughter Mia (Sadie Stanley) appears and apologizes for her father’s rudeness.

Li enrolls in school and encounters Mia again. He goes with her to a parts shop in Chinatown where she is charged a high price for an item. When Li speaks in Mandarin to the clerk, the price is reduced. This begins a friendship between the two youths.

They pass Demolition, a dojo run by O’Shea (Tim Rozon). Conor (Aramis Knight) trains there and is angry that Mia dumped him. He and his goon friends give Li a black eye. He returns to the pizza shop where Victor applies makeup to hide the injury.

When Dr. Fong finds out that her son fought, she is adamant that he does no more fighting. Li’s brother was killed after he won a tournament by disgruntled rivals. Li stood by helplessly, paralyzed with fear, when his brother cried for help.

At school, Conor taunts Li and they fight. Conor gets the best of the match before teachers break it up. Dr. Fong then gets Li a tutor, Alan (Wyatt Oleff), to help him study for his exams.

Victor owes O’Shea money for a loan. Victor is attacked by O’Shea’s thugs but Li’s defense sends them packing. Victor needs to win a boxing match to get the money to repay O’Shea. He asks Li to train him.

At the fight, O’Shea has the rival hit Victor with illegal punches. Victor is hospitalized and Mia is angry at Li and her father. Dr. Fong is at the hospital and she too is angry with her son. Li becomes depressed and will not answer Mr. Han’s calls.

Li comes home to a surprise attack by Mr. Han. He encourages Li to enter the 5 Boroughs competition with a grand prize of $50,000. Somehow Dr. Fong allows this to happen despite her previous admonitions.
But the tournament is in a week. So Mr. Han goes to California for help.

Who is Mr. Han visiting? Can Li be trained in time? Who is his surprise tutor? Will he win?

I was somewhat skeptical about this project when I first saw the trailer back in March. Was there a need for another installment in this franchise? What I didn’t consider is the popularity of “Cobra Kai,” which has introduced a new generation to the now-adult characters of the original films.

At my preview screening, the place was packed with children and teens of all ages. One of the sponsors was a karate academy. Their enthusiasm for the picture was clear from the thunderous applause at the end of the movie.

I liked that the filmmakers walked a fine balance in the screenplay. There are low points, but they never last too long. Humor is seasoned throughout the script to lighten the mood. Even in what could have been boring training sessions, the tension was relieved with lighthearted moments.

The other asset going for the film is that each of the main characters seem realistic and, more importantly, likeable. Including a franchise icon, Ralph Macchio, and a martial-arts legend, Jackie Chan is brilliant.

Of course this doesn’t apply to the two main villains, O’Shea and Conor, of the piece. But they are perfect foils for the plot. In an age of uncertainty, this classic good-vs-evil dichotomy gives a sense of stability as to who the good guys and the bad guys are.

All of this being said, it is true that no new ground is broken here. Whether it is the person in debt to a loan shark, a kid in new surroundings trying to adjust, his tentative romance, or meeting the challenges of a tournament, it has all been done before.

Yet somehow none of this seems to matter as the story unfolds. Keeping the picture at a running length of about an hour-and-a-half helps speed the action and avoid filler. This is a taut construction that uses the past glories of the franchise to introduce a new lead in a new context.

As far as acting goes, Ralph Macchio seems forever boyish. His respect for Mr. Miyagi is palpable and he comes across as strong and determined.

Jackie Chan is a very underrated actor, in my opinion. His martial-arts bona fides are undeniable. But he also does a good job with his emotional range.

Ben Wang seems like a real find. I am unfamiliar with him as an actor. But what impressed me is his ease at portraying teenage feelings, the highs and the lows. He is a real trouper when it comes to the training and fight scenes.

I was happy to see Joshua Jackson, who I first watched on “Dawson’s Creek” so many years ago. His acting is effortless. His character’s concern for his daughter and willingness to take risks make him very human.

So I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. Even as I recognized the formulaic parts, I just didn’t care. I am a little amazed at the longevity of this franchise and its ability to re-invent itself as time has gone by. There is a nice early-credit scene that you will want to stay for. Although the film has some violence, I would recommend it for tweens and teens.

Three and a half out of five stars

When kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) relocates to New York City with his mother to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. But his newfound peace is short-lived after he attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.

Cast: Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen
Directed by: Jonathan Entwistle
Written by: Rob Lieber