Karate Kid II

An insulting, puerile, and thoroughly annoying film. I suspected that I would be sorry that I rented it, and I was right. John Avildsen should just cut it out. No film since the “Rocky” series has so shamelessly attempted to cash in on a rehashed idea, but the “Rocky” films are stunning by comparison, and at least they offer a star who establishes a persona. Ralph Macchio sucks in this role; he is not now nor has he ever been believable. He is capable of good work (witness “Crossroads”) but it sure doesn't come through here. (Maybe it's the direction; “Crossroads” was directed by the highly skilled Walter Hill.) The first picture stayed just to this side of the pathetic, but this sequel falls all over itself trying to be ingratiating. Never has a picture denigrated so many worthwhile themes in one sitting: Love, Honor, Justice, Family, Tradition. All take a sorry beating in this revolting exercise. It was enough to make me want to turn to a life of pitiless betrayal and criminality, just to get the sickly-sweet taste out of my mouth (that's the sickly-sweet taste of insincerity--the filmmakers here don't believe the crap they are handing us any more than we do, and that's the problem). It certainly made me want to punch Ralph Macchio in the face, no matter how much "wisdom" he has absorbed from Pat Morita in these sickly imitations of drama.