The Karate Kid Part II

About on the same level as its watchable yet uneven predecessor, The Karate Kid Part II follows Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso as he accompanies mentor Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) to Japan after the older man’s father falls ill – with trouble ensuing as Miyagi is confronted by a nemesis (Danny Kamekona’s Sato) dating back to his adolescence. It’s not terribly surprising to note that The Karate Kid Part II suffers from an almost oppressively deliberate pace that often prevents one from wholeheartedly connecting with the material, as screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen places an ongoing emphasis on repetitive and downright needless elements that effectively exacerbate the movie’s sluggish atmosphere. There’s subsequently little doubt that the film is only truly engaging in fits and starts, with the performances and the irresistible chemistry between the protagonists certainly going a long way towards sustaining the viewer’s less-than-consistent interest. It’s also worth noting that The Karate Kid Part II has admittedly been peppered with a few unexpectedly entertaining interludes (eg Daniel exposes his douchebag bully’s dishonest trading system), yet it’s just as clear that the movie suffers from an incredible lull in the buildup to its final battle (which only confirms the film’s place as a seriously overlong piece of work). And while that climactic fight is undeniably quite enthralling, The Karate Kid Part II ultimately comes off as a rather pointless sequel that just barely squeaks by based on the charm of its two leads.

**1/2 out of ****