Warm entertainer

If one can put up with a surfeit of karate, there is much to delight in Harold Zwart’s sensitive drama The Karate Kid

It is a remake of the 1984 classic, which had a cherubic Ralph Macchio as the hero and has another charming lad Jaden Smith (son of Will Smith) in that role. But here both mother Sherry Parker (Taraji P. Henson) and son Dre (Jaden Smith) are Blacks, who have relocated from Detroit to Beijing as the mother has to take up a job there. So, naturally there is a good deal of culture shock as they adapt to the changed situation.

Jaden Smith has already given evidence of his immense charm in The Pursuit of Happyness directed by Will Smith. Will he be able to charm the audiences again? Of course, with braided locks and loads of attitude, he takes his time but once he gets into a relationship with the buildings unfriendly maintenance man Mr Han (Jackie Chan), things change. What’s more, Han is secretly a kung fu expert.

Outdoor locales like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China have been caressingly shot

But till then, Dre is at an all-time low, even wanting to return to Detroit. Meanwhile, Dre is able to win the affection of schoolmate Mei Ying (Wenwen Han) but this earns the wrath of the class bully Cheng (Zhenwei Wang), who along with his gang taunt and beat up little Dre.

It is a touching relationship between Dre and Han that director Harold Zwart is able to weave together and the cross-cultures are dealt with as sensitively as ever. Then it is the karate lessons that take most footage. A tad tedious, no doubt, they are mixed with a variety of anecdotes. "Don’t say ass all the time." Han tells Dre. With discipline drilled into him, Dre is able to eventually break some of his habits, like throwing his jacket on the floor.

Dre and Mei Yung have time to develop a sweet relationship as he takes interest in her music lessons and even attends her concert with her parents. But the Chinese seem to ban ties with the non-Chinese. Will Dre overcome this obstacle too?

The climax is a kung fu tournament and no prizes for guessing who’ll win. In typical Hollywood formula style, the film builds up to that thrilling climax.

It is a taut last quarter with young Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan touching dizzy heights and Chan showing his ability to handle serious roles too. Taraji P. Hensen underplays her part well.

The outdoor locales like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China are caressingly shot by James Crabe to provide a rare visual feast. And if one can put up with the surfeit of karate, there is much to be delighted in this sensitive, warm and deeply human entertainer.

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