July 4, 2022
Macchio, star of 1984’s The Karate Kid, produces another feel-good hit with this breezy reflection on his experience making the movie. Despite his initial reservations about the film’s “ridiculous” title—“If I ever did get this part... I would have to carry this label for the rest of my life!!”—21-year-old Macchio immediately connected to Daniel LaRusso, the underdog at the movie’s center: “He had this bravado that came naturally to me, drawn from my own experiences of being the smallest in my class.” As he recalls in affable prose highlights from his time “as a leading man in my rookie year of 1983,” he offers fans heartwarming anecdotes about his costars, including William (Billy) Zabka, who played antagonist Johnny Lawrence, and Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi: “Pat had it all. The beats, the rhythm, the tone.... He inhabited this role.” He also recounts the movie’s most memorable moment, the legendary crane kick with which LaRusso defeated Lawrence, the antagonist; while “essentially impossible” to execute, Macchio, with the help of martial artist Darryl Vidal (“The Baryshnikov of karate”), pulled it off without a stunt double. Reflecting on the movie’s enduring popularity, Macchio writes, “The film is a prime example of when Hollywood gets it all right. It teaches and inspires through pure entertainment.” Fans will find this just as entertaining.
August 15, 2022
The original Karate Kid tells his story. Few underdog tales can compete with The Karate Kid franchise in terms of impact on popular culture, but Macchio's real-life success in bringing it to life may come close. The author's love for his fans is abundantly clear. "The Karate Kid and all of its gifts belong to you, the fans," he writes. "It is you who have created the longevity. And I pay tribute to each and every one of you, without whom I would not have this book to write. You continue to uphold this legacy and share it with future generations." Macchio narrates his life primarily through his connection to the movie and the successful spinoff series, Cobra Kai. His wife, Phyllis, was his girlfriend when he first started work on the first movie, and we learn about their children because they were the ones who convinced him to appear on How I Met Your Mother as a heightened version of himself. As forthcoming as Macchio is about the process of becoming Daniel LaRusso and the lessons he learned from his rapid rise to celebrity, he is also guarded about his personal life. "I don't have the crash-and-burn-to-redemption story many of these types of memoirs produce," he writes. "Any fall from grace I experienced was not due to drug addiction, crime, or flagrant misbehavior. Nope. Sorry. Wrong guy here. I skew more toward the anti-E! True Hollywood Story." He also skews more toward the kind of guy who wants to be proud of his work rather than being proud of the lifestyle it provides. His down-to-earth writing style suits the behind-the-scenes tales and his heartwarming meetings with fans well--though if you're looking for anything deeper or edgier than that, it's not here. Macchio's sweet, nostalgic memoir is as family-friendly and instructive as its inspiration.
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September 1, 2022
Readers of a certain age may find it hard to believe that the movie The Karate Kid is nearing its 40-year mark. The classic 1984 popcorn movie staple has steadily remained a part of American pop culture, bringing in new viewers year after year with its inspiring story and thrilling athleticism. The center of the film is the fresh-faced and charming Daniel LaRusso, played by eternal teen heartthrob Macchio. In his book, Macchio describes a life forever linked to a movie that just won't go away. As the title would indicate, the book is less of an autobiography and more about the author's continuing relationship with the film he made early in his career. He shares the experience of auditioning for and making the film, in particular meeting and befriending his beloved costar, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita (who played mentor Mr. Miyagi). He further discusses what it's like to revisit his character in the current Netflix reboot series based on the film, Cobra Kai. VERDICT Macchio's book will be enjoyed thoroughly by fans of the movie and those nostalgic for the time in which it was produced.--Brett Rohlwing
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