The Karate Kid

Rating: ****

A remake of The Karate Kid couldn’t possibly have anyone better than Jackie Chan to play the role of the kung fu master. At barely 12,Jaden Smith (Will Smith’s son) may seem far too small to fit the bill of the boy who he trains. However,it’s Jaden who’s the revelation in this remake of the 1984 classic,combining hurt innocence with injured pride,a child-like belief with sudden maturity,and vulnerability with an intense resolve.

Dre moves to Beijing as his mother has been transferred from Detroit. He befriends Mei Ying (Han),which is not liked by some boys in their school. These boys also happen to be trained in martial arts and soon Dre’s school life is all about him trying to avoid this gang and keep his friendship with Mei going. One day,they corner him in a backyard and Dre is beaten black and blue,when out steps Han (Chan),the maintenance man in the ‘Beverly Hills Apartment Building’,where Dre and his mother live.

Seeing how good Han is at kung fu,Dre urges that he teach him. Han is reluctant and decides to first seek peace with the master who’s teaching the boys targeting Dre. However,when the master instead challenges Dre to a fight with one of his boys,Han throws a counter challenge: that Dre would take them on at the ‘Open Kung Fu Tournament’.

Han is a relentless trainer,with the first few weeks only involving Dre taking off his jacket,leaving it on the ground,picking it up,throwing it on the stand,wearing it —before the whole thing is repeated again. It’s a delightful sequence between Dre and Chan,who is always so good with comedy. The duo are a study in contrasts —Dre is uncomprehending and fidgety,while Han is all comprehending and stays calm.

The film builds up to the tournament climax at its own slow pace,and ends with a flourish. The weakest link is Mei,the girl Dre is interested in. Given Dre is just 12,The Karate Kid really didn’t need a romantic link,and the overdone-up Mei,acting far beyond her age is jarring.

Henson as Dre’s mother can seem too hysterical at times,while at the same time a bit too nonchalant for a woman with a 12-year-old running about unescorted through Beijing streets. And while Dre’s school may be a bit of a stretch,those streets are real China—as far removed from Detroit as they can be.

shalini.langer@expressindia.com