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Jaden Smith is captivating in "The Karate Kid"

Published: 6/11/2010 1:22 PM

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The superstar gene exists, and it's been passed down from Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith to their adorable, soon-to-be celebrity son, Jaden Smith. The tiny 12 year old takes on his very first lead role in "The Karate Kid," a film which - wouldn't you know it? - is not about karate at all (it's about kung fu). It doesn't matter. A remake of the movie of the same name from 1984, this modern version may lack the heart of the original yet still manages to shine. Of course, it's got the cuteness factor to help it along the way (Smith's cheeks are just asking to be pinched, and he knows it). The adorable adolescent plays Dre Paker, a tot whose mom, Sherry (Taraji P. Henson of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") gets a new job in Beijing and moves the two to China. Dre is lost in translation, and it doesn't take long for him to become an outcast. Of course, this is a standard Hollywood movie, so he soon starts crushing hard on fellow student Meiying (Wanwan Han) and eventually becomes a target of a bunch of bullies. The punks don't like him, and kindly offer him a knuckle sandwich. Enter Mr Han (Jackie Chan), a down-and-out martial arts whiz-turned-janitor who is called to Dre's new apartment to fix the water. He takes a liking to the boy, and when the local rascals back him into a corner, the sullen fighting champ comes to the rescue. Before you can say "wax on" Dre is booked for a kung fu showdown. Cute and entertaining, "The Karate Kid" is certainly worth the price of admission. And yet, it goes without saying that the movie is missing key details. Dre doesn't paint any fences in this flick, and Mr Han uses a swatter to kill a pesky fly instead of a pair of chopsticks. For diehard fans of the original, this is near blasphemy. Still, those who loved Chan in "Rush Hour" will appreciate the well-choreographed combat in his latest film. As for Smith, who starred with his dear old dad in "The Pursuit of Happyness," it certainly seems as if he has a bright career ahead of him. The little guy took on the challenge of carrying a movie and came out an undisputed champ. "The Karate Kid" is rated PG and contains scenes involving some violence and sexuality. The film has a running time of 132 minutes and is not recommended for children under 8 years old. Featured Titles: Karate Kid Special Edition DVD $10.99 Pursuit of Happyness Full Frame DVD $10.99 Rush Hour 1-3 Special Edition Set DVD $43.99 Curious Case of Benjamin Button 2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray Disc $13.99

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