The notion of seeing Chuck Norris spoofing his own macho image in fantasy sequences for "Sidekicks" must have seemed irresistible to the filmmakers here. But Norris' brother Aaron, who directed, doesn't have the faintest notion of how to make these moments really funny.
And that's too bad, since the rest of the film is little more than a "Karate Kid" rehash.
The story focuses on young Jonathan Brandis, a high school geek with asthma, who is constantly daydreaming — so much so that he has to be shaken to get back into the real world. No wonder his classmates make fun of him.
He idolizes Norris and imagines himself in movie-style adventures — some of which directly spoof Norris' films (chiefly, "Missing in Action" . . . wasn't that one rated R?).
Brandis also imagines in these daydreams that he and Norris are rescuing his teacher (the sadly underused Julia Nickson-Soul), who has taken a special interest in him — and who soon begins dating the boy's workaholic dad (Beau Bridges, who seems to be in every other movie these days).
Eventually, the teacher's uncle (veteran character actor Mako) arrives on the scene, ostensibly to run the family restaurant. But he's really here to make like "The Karate Kid's" Miyagi, to teach Brandis about martial arts and, of course, life.
The film ends with a showdown at a karate tournament where Norris is a scheduled guest, and wouldn't you know it — he's such a nice guy that he agrees to join Brandis' team to win the day. Norris also takes on the film's villain, an over-the-top, pop-eyed performance by Joe Piscopo. Over-the-top and pop-eyed should not be confused with "funny," however. (Richard Moll does manage a chuckle or two, as Brandis' "Bull"-headed high school coach.)
Obviously, this one is strictly for kids, and the violence is in the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"-"3 Ninjas" bloodless style, including the gunplay in fantasy sequences. It's all played very broadly for laughs, except when it's blatantly sentimental. Either way, it's not much.
"Sidekicks" is rated PG for considerable violence and some profanity.