If you are a die hard fan of the Karate Kid franchise and Jackie Chan, then listen carefully – because this time he is back with The Karate Kids: Legends!
That too in India, with Hindi dubbing in the voice of Ajay Devgn and his son!
But the question is – is this film really a legend or just nostalgia in packaging and the same old story inside?
Plot Summary (Without Spoilers)
So brother, the plot of the film is nothing new.
The same old story:
There is a girl, she has a toxic boyfriend who is an expert in Karate.
Then comes a new boy – as a hero.
There is love, there are fights, and then preparation for the championship!
Only time is less, punches are more and predictability is the highest!
Now think – 1984’s Karate Kid, then Cobra Kai and then the Jackie Chan-Will Smith part… you will get to see glimpses of all of them in this film.
Voice Acting – Ajay Devgn and his son dubbing
Now let’s talk about the most highlighted thing – Hindi dubbing!
Ajay Devgn’s voice suits Jackie Chan at many places, but…
His son’s dubbing? Brother, to be honest – it seems as if Khushi Kapoor is doing the voice of Jackie Chan Jr.
There is a dialogue – “Now will you make me single in a single day and then leave me?”
Brother, even the popcorn started throwing itself out of the theater after hearing this.
Technicalities – Action, Cinematography, Music
The fight scenes are decent, especially the final fight sequence which has a special move as usual.
But the action choreography fails to offer anything new.
Cinematography and BGM are average – nothing too wow, nothing completely fail.
But yes – watching Jackie Chan on screen still gives a satisfaction.
He is a walking nostalgia – only this time his screen time is a little less.
What’s Missing?
- The film is highly predictable – you can guess the last scene by watching the first scene.
- Emotionally flat – no deep bonding, no real tension.
- Jackie Chan’s role in the second half seems like an intruder – just to show off!
- And most importantly – this film seems like a “add some new masala to the karate script” type of cash grab.
Funny Take – Like the Second Script Style
Now to tell you the truth, it felt like I was giving a Hollywood exam after watching Mission Impossible, Final Destination and Karate Kid Legends in the same month!
Such a basic movie that I felt like doing karate while sitting in the theater!
And brother, Ajay Devgn’s voice sounded good on Jackie Chan at some places, but the rest of the time it seemed as if Mukesh Khanna had become Iron Man.
Final Verdict – To Watch or Not to Watch?
If you are:
- a hardcore fan of Jackie Chan,
- fond of watching Kung Fu/Karate movies,
- or want to watch a family friendly time pass movie with your kids,
then you can watch this movie – keeping expectations low!
But if you have come to watch something new, emotional, thrilling or impactful,
then brother this movie will rock your game, Sugundi! 😂
My Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Half a star extra in respect of Jackie Chan!
Otherwise the whole film is just a reheated version of an old story, sitting in the lap of nostalgia.