First thing first: Jaden Smith is no Ralph Macchio. That said, he's far less annoying in The Karate Kid remake than he is in the dreadful vanity project After Earth, which is something to be grateful for. The real draw for this updated version of The Karate Kid is of course Jackie Chan, who teaches Smith's schoolboy kung fu (and kind of makes the title redundant in the process, but who says movie titles have to make sense?), entering him into a tournament so he can prove himself by taking on the school bully. The original remains a much-loved classic for those who grew up with it, and while this remake isn't going to be able to compete in the nostalgia department, on its own merits it's surprisingly good fun, with believable chemistry between Smith and Chan.
