Magic Kid

Magic Kid successfully evokes the same tangy, feel-good, kid-can-do kung fu vibes of family friendly Karate Warrior and Sidekicks. Not long into able Karate kid Kevin (Ted Jan Roberts), and pretty sister's (Shonda Whipple) L. A vacation they are soon deeply embroiled in boozy uncle Bob's (Stephen Furst)shady shenanigans, with Kick boxing icon Don 'The Dragon' Wilson saving the day. The formulaic premise sweetened by Magic Kid's zesty pace, boisterous likeability, plentiful fisticuffs, Don 'The Dragon' Wilson, and the plucky kid's magic martial artistry. Furst's broad comedy shtick as the stumble bum agent/uncle Buck(less) frequently provides quality rib-ticklage. If a goofily Home Alone'd/Beverly Hills Ninja romp sounds appealing, the playful, relentlessly upbeat Magic Kid remains a frantically fun, more than watchable DTV actioner. I've said it many times before, but a restored retrospective of action stalwarts PM Entertainment's greatest 90s Kung Fu hits is hugely overdue.

I remember watching this film when I was about twelve and even then I found it rather pathetic. The characters were all wooden and the props in the background could have acted better. I mean, ask yourself why grown men- supposedly hardened criminals- would be struck down by a ten-year-old boy.

Speaking of the kid, he was just too odd and arrogant to pass as a popular, normal boy. His uncle is being stalked by criminals and here is this brat nattering on nonsense about ninja codes (not to mention, by his facial expressions, he looked quite constipated in the scenes he was using his karate). Meanwhile his teenage sister had the spine of a jellyfish. She just stood back like one of those pathetic fifties female characters while her kid brother fought off adult men. Those minutes she was on screen must have set women's lib back decades.

Seriously, if you want a martial arts film for your kids, you're better off watching '3 Ninjas' where the children are realistically portrayed and the acting is half-decent.

I have never posted any comments on any movies, but I had to let you all know about one of the worst movies of all time. "Magic Kid" is so horrible that it transfixes you and you can't turn it off. You can't believe that dialogue could be this cheesy and that acting could be this comically bad. The lead child actor is uncomfortable to look at, he has the weirdest facial expressions, especially when he is doing his karate thing. Scary. I know it seems like I am describing a "good-bad" movie, but no this is a "BAD- BAD" movie. The worst moment is the 20 minute Universal Studios commercial in the middle of the movie. Doesn't get worse than this my friends.

Chris Mitchum and Lauren Tewes need some quality time together without the kids so they decide to pack the two kids off to his brother in Los Angeles.

Brother Stephen Furst is an agent, fallen on hard times, and owing some really heavy bread to the local syndicate boss for some foolishly placed wagers on some sporting events. The last thing he needs is these two kids to be saddled with.

The kids, Ted Jan Roberts and Shonda Whipple, have their different interests and ideas about Tinseltown that they've developed from what they hear in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Young Ted is a juvenile kick-boxing champion, his hero is martial arts champion and now film actor, Don 'The Dragon' Wilson. His sister may be from Michigan, but her ideas definitely come from The Valley and she just wants to meet her soap opera hunk crush, Jason Iorg.

With syndicate boss Joe Campanella and his less than sharp nephew Billy Hufsey chasing them, the uncle and his relations have little time to rest. But of course it does all work out in the end.

Stephen Furst was both funny and had pathos in his character, young Ted Jan Roberts if not the world's greatest actor did come across as sincere in his part. Shonda Whipple though kind of spoiled the film for me. This is a kid's film so I don't expect Shakespeare or O'Neill here, but her Valley Girl character was too too much. I can't believe how dumb this one is in the face of all the dangers manifesting themselves around her and her relations. All she wants to do is party and meet her sex object. As Snagglepuss used to say, "YOIKES."

Magic Kid is a pleasant enough film for kids and for martial arts fans, but I don't think it has any appeal beyond those two targeted audiences.

The film itself it not that bad. Sometimes the acting in the film is nerve-racking. The action in the film is good and the story- line is all right, but that acting.

In order to have a movie, you have to hire good, capable actors. Ted Jan Roberts, and Stephen Furst does not count as good actors.

Think really hard, what have you seen them in?

Explain that one. I have nothing against them personally, however they need to get some more acting skills.

Besides that, the film wasn't really bad.

Two and a half stars out of four.