WAXING ON

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.