Twelve-year-old Dre and his mother are moving to China because of Mom's job change. Dre, played by Smith, doesn't dig his new digs.
"I just want to go home."
"This is home."
Dre's puppy-love interest is played by Wenwen Han, but Dre's love life and life in general is interrupted by a gang of school bullies.
"The only way to stop them is to face them. I will teach you real kung fu."
Maintenance man Mr. Hahn, played by martial-arts legend Chan, comes to Dre's rescue after Dre passes up learning kung fu at an academy run by a sadist, who's also teaching the bullies.
"Hang up your jacket. Take it down. Put it on. Take it off."
"I already..."
"Jacket off!"
The only way to get the boys off Dre's back is if he enters a kung fu tournament. It's a long road as Hahn mentors him from the basics up.
"Empty your mind. Flow with my movement. Connect to the energy."
Hahn's kung fu classes are not only lessons in self-defense, but lessons in life attitude. Smith is the cute boy who steals the show; his innocent looks and lines have the audience laughing, and Chan compliments with his dry humor.
"Mr. Hahn?"
"Your focus needs more focus."
Critics were very harsh on this made-for-families film. No, it doesn't meet the level of the first "Karate Kid" with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, but what remake does? I liked the movie, and think most of the bashing's unjustified.
I say kung fu-ey on those guys. See the movie.
