Magic Kid

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.

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.

First of all: This is not one of those movies you will want to see again. But its neither one that you would turn off right in the middle (unless you have anything else to do, and I mean anything).

This film is so "the 90's children's movie". It got pure classic themes regarding this. I really enjoyed it on this level, it reminded me of the good ol' days. Modern kids above the age of 11 wont consider this movie anything but mindless fodder. But you have to remember that in 1994 this movie would probably rate as an average. Today, its definitely below average, but thats the way it goes. I got this pretty cheap, so I ain't complaining. But whatever you do, don't spend more than 5$ on this title.

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.

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.