Fun, and believable, on the most important level: It convinces us that Jaden Smith has what it takes to fight his way to the top. The kids in the movie, from musicians to marital artists, are unusually skillful, and Smith seems assured of more starring roles. By the end of The Karate Kid, we can’t help cheering, even when we know we’ve been sucker-punched. Jackie Chan co-stars in Morita’s old role of the humble maintenance man who coaches the Bullied One. The older Chan gets, the simpler and truer he becomes as a performer.
A popcorn picture that thinks it’s “The Last Emperor, ” The Karate Kid is about as likely to grab your youngster’s attention as any other propaganda film made by the Chinese government.