In the first Karate Kid, teenage Daniel and his Jersey mum settle in a modest California suburb. It’s a crucial bit of character shading, separating our hero from his wealthier peers, including the cheerleader he falls for. Today’s updated Kid goes an ocean further, exporting its black Detroit youngster Dre (Jaden Smith) all the way to Beijing, where his braided hair gets fondled and his race is a novelty. He’s also, unambiguously, a kid: all of 12 and hardly the man of the house.

But that lump-in-the-throat feeling is the same as before, as the outsider tale receives an unexpectedly sensitive tweenification, transformed into a small-dude adventure that stresses dignity over coolness. Credit better-than-good Smith, accessing a wealth of emotion, aside from the moments he’s been coached to come off more like his dad, Will. He’s young enough to weep and want to go home; fittingly, Jackie Chan is, for once, acting his age, slouching as Mr Han, a handyman requiring a rebirth.

Sometimes the parts don’t quite slide into place as they used to, especially when the script insists on its budding romance. Plus, you’ll miss ‘sweep the leg’ and the Crane. Yet given the bilge we’ve seen this summer, it’s nice to be reminded of the virtues of clean storytelling and cultural curiosity.