The Next Karate Kid Review

What happens when you cast Pat Morita and Hilary Swank in a movie together? You get The Next Karate Kid.

OK, I'm sure that's not how the movie came about, but it wasn't a terribly good idea to begin with. I can buy the idea of a girl who wants to learn karate, but it's a different story when there isn't much at stake. Remember Karate Kid II? It was definitely a better movie than the third Karate Kid, but if you remember, Daniel's final encounter does not happen as part of a tournament or an event. Rather, it is a personal battle. It's not an awful concept, but it's not earthshaking either.

That's pretty much where we're left with this film. Not Great. Not Horrible. Mediocre at best. An angry teenager, Julie Pierce (played by Hilary Swank) has only one friend: a hawk she named Angel. Her parents died when she was still young, and her grandmother isn't sure how to deal with her. Julie is thus left in the capable hands of Mr. Miyagi, while her grandmother (Louisa) goes on a vacation. Eventually Colonel Dugan and his goons (who play authority figures in the school) find out about her secret pet, and have it taken away to a shelter. Fortunately, Julie has allies in the form of Eric McGowan, an attractive young man who takes a liking to Julie, and of course, Mr. Miyagi, the wise karate master. After causing some trouble and being suspended from school, Julie goes to a monastery with Mr. Miyagi to learn the master's ways. Returning from her training, Julie goes to the prom with Eric, where Dugan and his goons once again come to wreak havoc. Julie has a final showdown with one of the goons and beats him.

This film is formulaic to say the least. Mr. Miyagi comes to Julie and Eric's rescue, much the same way he did for Daniel. Julie finds a love interest, much like Daniel did.

The movie also has trouble suspending disbelief, with monks coming to visit Julie in Boston, and a group of buff 20 year olds keeping students in line at high school. I've been to high school. I don't remember being pushed around or being told what to do by beefcakes in black shirts and blue jeans.

The one thing that saves this movie is the music, and elevates it beyond tolerable status. Bill Conti is simply a genius, and his compositions are too good for a movie like this. Still, I think it's better there than not at all.

Fortunately, this movie comes packaged in The Karate Kid Collection (on the reverse side of the Karate Kid Part III DVD). If you really want to watch it, just pick up this DVD set. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother.