Karate Kid: Legends

Amid all the menacing opponents on the mat or in the ring in Karate Kid: Legends, the battle against a pedestrian script proves too daunting to overcome.

Overflowing with nostalgia right from the opening frame, the latest installment in the 40-year-old franchise feels like an IP cash grab rather than a necessary continuation of the series.

Adhering closely to established formula while funneling toward an inevitable climactic showdown, little of it makes sense, but it does provide an excuse for a reunion of teachers and pupils past and present, which is really the point.

The coming-of-age storyline offers a slight twist to the usual culture-clash template. Li (Ben Wang) is a Chinese teenager and kung fu prodigy under the tutelage of Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), last seen in the 2010 remake of the 1984 original.

Needing a fresh start after a family tragedy, Li relocates to New York with his mother (Ming-Na Wen). He struggles to adjust, becoming the target for a school bully (Aramis Knight) who also happens to be the defending champion in the city’s premier youth karate tournament.

Li makes friends with Mia (Sadie Stanley), the daughter of a brash pizzeria owner (Joshua Jackson) who’s also a boxer preparing for a fight to help pay off some bad loans.

“I made a promise that I wouldn’t fight anymore and I’m trying very hard to keep it,” Li explains while knowing full well what movie he’s in.

Cue the old-school training montage that doesn’t involve waxing cars or painting fences, but it does bring together a visiting Han, who tracks down Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), the initial franchise title character still spreading the wisdom of his late mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

Youngsters who won’t appreciate the throwback references might identify with the diminutive adolescent protagonist trying to chart his own path while still honoring his family.

His back-alley confrontation with a small army of thugs is reminiscent of a younger Chan — not coincidentally. While Li is engaging enough, however, the plot that surrounds him deserves to be kicked to the curb.

Rookie director Jonathan Entwistle keeps the pace lively and leans into crowd-pleasing legacy. Chan brings his usual infectious charisma while Macchio’s involvement is really a glorified cameo.

Meanwhile, the emotional resonance comes almost entirely from connections to the past, giving Karate Kid: Legends all the subtlety of a roundhouse kick to the chin.

Rated PG-13, 94 minutes.