Bullet Points: The Martial Arts Kid

One thing missing from many of today’s action films is heart.  Even though it is difficult to define, most people know a movie has heart because it touches them emotionally in a way that is different then just the enjoyment of seeing someone getting kicked in the face. If a movie doesn’t have heart it can still be enjoyable but it is difficult to garner the deep connection with the audience. If a movie has too much heart the filmmakers run the risk of distracting from the story and action with a syrupy pile of sap.  The 2015 movie The Martial Arts Kid is just the sort of entertainment that has enough action to keep the die hard martial arts film fans satisfied while tying in an engaging story with just the right level heart. A movie isn’t just awarded the highest rating by The Dove Foundation for being amoral schlock. (FYI –The Martial Arts Kid was awarded the highest rating by The Dove Foundation!) So join me, and bring your whole family, in a journey to the action-packed heart filled The Martial Arts Kid.

First things first, with a title like The Martial Arts Kid there is probably one martial arts young person movie that might come to your mind and that is unfortunate.  The Martial Arts Kid deserves to stand on two feet, or one if the crane technique is involved, and wisely decides not to limit itself to one martial arts disciple. While you may see some similarities to the story, the director and actors bring the film to life in a refreshing new format sure to entertain.  While many will like other martial arts young person movies I say “You’re the Best”, The Martial Arts Kid.

• Young Robbie Oakes (Jansen Panetierre) is having a tough time in Cleveland, OH after his mother dies. He likes to get into trouble and it is just too much for his grandmother to handle and she is forced to ship Robbie down to Cocoa Beach, FL with his Uncle Glen and Aunt Cindy. On his first night, Robbie meets the lovely Rina (Kathryn Newton) after sneaking out of the house but he runs afoul of her boyfriend and local Cocoa Beach tough, Bo (Matthew Ziff.) Bo’s father is a bigwig in Cocoa Beach and the family likes to think they can get away with anything they want. Bo also happens to be the lead dog in a Cocoa Beach pack of bullies that enjoy giving Robbie trouble at school. If only there was an outlet to change Robbie’s bad boy ways while also protecting himself from the bullies. Enter the martial arts!

• Did I mention that Uncle Glen and Cindy happen to both practice the martial arts? And that Uncle Glen runs the Space Coast Dojo? And they are played by the world’s greatest kickboxer Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson (Cyber Tracker) and one of the most kick-ass ladies ever to be on film Cynthia Rothrock (Sworn to Justice)? Well they are and after Robbie sees Cindy take out some muggers he goes to Glen’s dojo to learn from the master. Even forgetting the fact that The Dragon and Lady Dragon are a couple of the baddest martial artists ever, the pair seem like the kind of aunt and uncle I would love to visit because they would probably do fun stuff like make pancakes and go bowling. Robbie soon finds out that Bo trains with Dojo Extreme, led by Laurent Kaine (TJ Storm of Doomsdayer fame) a former associate of Glen. The dojos differ in that Dojo Extreme believes you fight to win. Glen teaches (correctly I might add) in fighting only for self defense or the defense of others.

• Robbie progresses in his in martial arts training as does his relationship with Rina after a breakup with Bo. We are treated to both the training and dating montages with different color belts and a trip to the zoo respectively. (Hearing The Dragon give dating advice to Robbie is priceless with possibly the only more enjoyable scene was when The Dragon and Lady Dragon were dancing. Definitely worth the price of admission.) Bo of course is not happy with the breakup and roughs up Rina. This leads to an all out battle between Team Space Coast Dojo and Extreme Dojo. We get to see Robbie vs. Bo, Cindy vs. Inga Van Ardenn’s character Inga, and Glen vs. Kaine. These fights are pretty spectacular thanks to the level of talent and it is nice knowing that you can sleep well because The Martial Arts Kid has a happy ending!

The Martial Arts Kid is a heart filled action film that you can be excited to watch with your family, yet it still will excite martial arts fans with the action and realism thanks to the incredibly talented cast and engaging story. If you are looking for some Bonus Bullet Points that are filled with heart (talent level is questionable) all you have to do is keep reading!

• To find out more about some of the people behind The Martial Arts Kid check out our interviews with director Michael Baumgarten (Paying Mr. McGetty) and actors Don “The Dragon” Wilson and R. Marcos Taylor. (We are treated to Wilson’s character kicking Taylor’s butt in The Martial Arts Kid.)

• In case you didn’t know, the martial arts young person movie that is similar to The Martial Arts Kid is The Karate Kid.

• There is perfect setup for a sequel with Chuck Zito making an appearance as Bo’s dad at the very end of the film. I wouldn’t mind seeing The Martial Arts Kid get the same number of sequels/reboots as The Karate Kid… as long as Will Smith’s progeny are kept away.

• Some next level comparison to The Karate Kid shows that Bo is similar to the William Zabka jerk character Johnny. However, during the halfway to Halloween party in The Martial Arts Kid, Bo dresses as a caveman like Zabka’s jerk Chas character in Back to School and not as a skeleton. That is a deep dive, The Martial Arts Kid!

• Still not convinced about the serious level of martial arts in the film? How about legends like Dr. Robert Goldman, Christine Bannon Rodrigues, Jeff Smith, Orlando Rivera, Glenn C. Wilson, Carl Van Meter, Gerry Blanck, Peter ‘Sugarfoot’ Cunningham and Dewey Cooper all appearing in The Martial Arts Kid.

• Cocoa Beach High School has one of the finest teachers in the history of film. Miss Criss can send me to detention any day, if you know what I mean. (You might not want to include this fact when watching with your family.)

• Best quote goes to one of Bo’s acolytes. “Yo, Bo, forget this punk. Let’s go get yogurt. Yogurt! Yogurt! Yogurt!” He must be a fan of Toy Soldiers and Spaceballs.

• When you hear The Martial Arts Kid is it just me or does anyone else think about seeing a gi wearing baby goat giving someone a hoof right to the face?