BEFORE: Wrapping up the last few sports films this week - I've seen the first two "Karate Kid" films, but then I bailed on the franchise. Did I make the right call? I programmed this one for Father's Day, since Mr. Miyagi is a surrogate father figure for Daniel-san. Linking from "Bend It Like Beckham", Keira Knightley was also in "Domino" with Tom Waits, who was also in "The Outsiders" with Ralph Macchio (last heard in "The Secret of NIMH 2").
THE PLOT: John Kreese attempts to gain revenge on Daniel and Miyagi, with the aid of an old army buddy.
AFTER: Yeah, I think I was right to avoid this one back in the day. 1989 was a busy year for me, I was just out of college and scrambling for work in the film business, putting in long hours on whatever was shooting in New York (mostly music videos).
It seems like there was a push to get back to a storyline similar to the first "Karate Kid" film - perhaps the 2nd film, being set in Japan, didn't connect well with American audiences? So they brought the characters back to the U.S., revived the old rivalry with the Cobra Kai dojo, and also the All-Valley Karate tournament. Obviously this was the top prize in the sport back then, right?
But they brought in extra characters, to help their old rival pull off a long con - they hoped to defeat Daniel in the tournament, and use that extra publicity to rebuild their dojo's reputation. But since Miyagi didn't recommend that he defend his title, the villains needed to harass him into entering the tournament. And we all know, that's a binding contract - once you enter a karate tournament, you're honor bound to compete (plus, the fine print clearly states: "no refunds").
Not only does this feel like a manufactured conflict, the plan doesn't make a whole lot of sense. All the Cobra Kai dojo has to do to win the tournament is just NOT get Daniel to enter - they're bringing in a ringer anyway, so why not just let that ringer win, and get good publicity for the dojo that way? Ah, but they want Daniel and Mr. Miyagi to suffer. True, but there are much easier ways to achieve that - burning down their store would be one way. Dishonorable, yes, but so is the plan they go with.
As part of this plan, Kreese's friend has to pretend to train Daniel - which also makes no sense. Why show your best finishing moves to someone you're trying to humiliate? Do they want him to lose the tournament or not? And if so, why give him the chance to win it? Same problem with the rock-climbing scene - the villains are put in a position where they have to help the main character, so it all feels like some screenwriter just didn't think things through. The constant repetition of plot points in the dialogue seems to support this.
Essentially, the whole storyline is a succession of questionable choices - right from the start, when Daniel decides to not go to college, and go into business with Mr. Miyagi. Really, it just shows the filmmakers didn't know what to do with the character, and it's all downhill from there.
Also starring Pat Morita (last seen in "Honeymoon in Vegas"), Robin Lively, Martin Kove, Thomas Ian Griffith, with a cameo from Frances Bay.
RATING: 3 out of 10 leg sweeps
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