The Karate Kid: A Cult Classic
A Discussion of the Film Favorite and Why It Has Endured
Sep 25, 2008
For those who have not seen the movie, it is easy to assume that The Karate Kid is a woefully overestimated staple of American culture, that it is strictly “a guy movie,” or that the viewer must know or care about Karate in order to enjoy it.
The Movie and its Influences
But The Karate Kid features many well-worn, well-loved archetypes, archetypes that are as relevant today as they were in the Middle Ages: there’s the underdog who overcomes the odds, the wise-yet-troubled mentor who shows him the way, and the pack of completely evil, completely one-dimensional villains. It has all these classic story ingredients, plus over-the-top characters, campy ‘80s appeal, and all those delightfully sculpted little bonsai trees that Mr. Miyagi is so fond of. The result is an unforgettable movie.
Perhaps that is why so many Karate Kid-isms have become ingrained in the American lexicon. Consider the phrase “wax on, wax off,” for example, which is referenced in such other films as Kevin Smith’s Dogma.
Furthermore, many song titles and lyrics contain references to The Karate Kid. The band No More Kings even has a song called “Sweep the Leg,” and if those fluent in Karate Kid speak, you should recognize that title. The video for “Sweep the Leg” features the Karate Kid cast, including Ralph Macchio ("Daniel") and Billy Zabka ("Johnny"), all grown up and spoofing the film that made them famous.
Ralph Macchio as Daniel
The film may be enjoyable, and much-referenced, but some questions remain. Perhaps first and foremost: who cast this movie? Who decided to give skinny little Ralph Macchio the role of a lifetime as Daniel LaRusso? With his lanky limbs and overbite, he certainly doesn’t look like a fighting force to be reckoned with. It does lend to his underdog appeal, however. If some muscle-bound teen champion had been cast as Daniel, he would not have been such a lovable loser.
Other Noteworthy Characters
Apparently something about Daniel is so irritating that people like the Cobra Kais can’t help but go after him, and and yet Mr. Miyagi (does he even have a first name?) takes a chance on Daniel and trains him. Mr. Miyagi is such a great character because he can convey more with a grunt and silly pseudo-wisdom (“man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything”) than other characters can with a whole monologue. One famous example occurs when Miyagi tells Daniel, “Either you Karate do ‘yes’ or Karate do ‘no.’ You Karate do ‘guess so,’ just like grape.” He does this while squashing a grape. Good lesson. Every disdainful sniff, every eyeroll, every playful nose tweak: Pat Morita’s performance is pitch-perfect. It’s almost no wonder that Morita was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance, although it’s strange to imagine a world in which The Karate Kid won an Academy Award.
And then there are the villains. Like the Batman franchise, the Karate Kid franchise has been somewhat defined by its villains. When someone says Karate Kid, it’s hard not to think of the aforementioned bully Johnny Lawrence, or the Cobra Kai sensei John Creese, played by an exuberantly evil Martin Cove. What KK scene is more memorable than Daniel-san getting beat up him by a group of skeleton-clad Cobra Kai after he pulls a ridiculously ill-conceived Halloween prank on Johnny? (In case it was unclear that the Cobra Kai were evil, they got dressed up in matching spooky skeleton outfits to make it as obvious as possible.) And who could forget the Cobra Kai who screams “Get him a body bag!” as Johnny pummels Daniel in the ring? They are all so delightfully evil.
The Verdict
In short, The Karate Kid is very ‘80s, very cheesy, and completely testosterone-infused. But it is also surprisingly easy to appreciate, from Daniel’s first successful “crane kick” to his first date at a place called “Golf N’ Stuff,” to the movie’s soundtrack, which features ‘80s one-hit-wonders Bananarama. The Karate Kid does indeed deserve to be a cultural staple, because it will always be relevant in its own way.
