Wolff rating: GOOD
Plot summary: Boy meets girl, boy loses girl to snarling teens who know karate, boy learns karate with intent on getting girl back.
Biased, pithy comments: This film is a fairy tale, a fantasy, simple, a little derivative, but sweet---sort of ``Rocky'' meets ``Bloodsport'' for the under-16 set. (Then again, this director made ``Rocky,'' so I suppose if you rip yourself off, it's OK.) It made a huge splash when it came out and spawned zillions of knockoffs about loveable kids who know karate, but only this one maintains solid acting (including a young Shue), good chemistry between the characters, a few nice laughs without too much ``ah so'' humor. It's obviously a film made by people who were in love with what they were making, which supports it when it gets too cliche.
Other Notes: Morita is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for both the Oscars and the Golden Globes---he really makes the film. I saw two of the three sequels and they were bland carbon-copies of this film, but folk tell me the fourth one is even worse.
How many times I have seen it: x1.5
Starring: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue.
Directed by: John G. Avildsen