The Next Karate Kid

Though perhaps a mild improvement over its immediate predecessor, The Next Karate Kid is nevertheless a weak sequel that boasts few compelling attributes aside from Pat Morita’s expectedly stirring turn as Mr. Miyagi. The film, which picks up several years after the events of the third installment, follows Miyagi as he agrees to mentor a sullen teenager (Hilary Swank’s Julie Pierce) who’s been acting out since the death of her parents, with the movie subsequently (and primarily) detailing the mentor/protégé relationship that ensues between the two disparate individuals. As expected, The Next Karate Kid has been infused with a host of time-wasting elements (eg Miyagi teaches Julie how to dance, Miyagi and Julie are visited by a group of quirky monks, etc) designed to compensate for the thin storyline – with the decidedly far-from-enthralling atmosphere exacerbated by a pace that’s almost excessively deliberate. There is, as a result, never a point at which the viewer is able to work up any real enthusiasm or interest in the characters’ exploits, which is undoubtedly rather disappointing given the strength of the performances and the inevitable confrontation that closes the proceedings. The end result is a repetitive sequel that seems unlikely to appeal to either fans of the series or newcomers to the Karate Kid universe, with the film’s most egregious failing undoubtedly its refusal to update the viewer on just what happened to Ralph Macchio’s character.

** out of ****