Good "Karate Kid" moments + MMA = an enjoyable movie.

Rating: 8/10 (12 May 2009)

A lot of people say "Never Back Down" is a lot like "The Karate Kid". I agree, but I think it grabbed the good karate parts and switched them with some nice Mixed Martial Arts(MMA)ones. The story is basic: bad boy Jake Tyler(Sean Faris) moves to Orlando and ends up stirring trouble with Ryan(Cam Gigadent), the best fighter in the city. Tyler then has to train with his own Mr. Miyagi, MMA instructor/fighter Jean Roqua(Djimon Hounsou), to fight back and show Ryan how tough he really can be. The characters are pretty much "O.C."-esque but they manage to still entertain. The soundtrack is also really good, with titles from My Chemical Romance, Rise Against, Limp Bizkit, and more. But the best part is the fights. From Jake's first bout with Ryan to the final match at the Beatdown, the film's underground fight tourney, the fights entertain every time. Don't let the goofy title fool you: this is overall a really good fighting drama.