Mr. Miyagi decides to take Julie, a troubled teenager, under his wing after he learns that she blames herself for her parents' demise and struggles to adjust with her grandmother and fellow pupils.
Not that girls will go see this or boys will care.
– Lisa Schwarzbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep 2011
rotten:
Only the reasonably-appealing performances of Morita and newcomer Swank keep it all from becoming even more of a loser.
– Clifford Terry,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2013
rotten:
While the message that a girl can defend herself against the boys threatening her is a good one, it's lost in a movie where the bullies look like Mussolini's bodyguards and where Julie waits for her boyfriend and Miyagi to come to her defense.
– Carrie Rickey,
Philadelphia Inquirer,
22 May 2013
rotten:
The overt message of any Karate Kid movie: Don't fight unless you absolutely have to. The implicit message: You'll always have to. Let the smitings begin!
– Chris Willman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2013
rotten:
The Next Karate Kid is harmless as children's entertainment, but for 104 very long minutes, there isn't a recognizable human being in sight.