This third (and most likely final) installment of the urban martial arts film franchise has the strangest and over-the-top ending despite having a serious story set years after The Fearless Two.

Sky Kelly is the daughter of legendary martial artist Cody Kelly, who had died before she was born. Inheriting her father’s inner chi, and yet she still has never met her father. Raised by her mother Kimberly and stepdad Mike, who along with Master Osha, has always followed Cody’s martial arts creed, Sky is training for an annual tournament. The tournament is to honor the memory and legacy of Cody. However, there is going to be some major competition this year.

Jada and Rasheed have come to town with one thing in mind. Revenge. The fraternal twins are the children of Jay, Cody’s late archrival. They intend to enter the tournament not to honor Cody’s legacy, but to end it. Training with Master Wadell, Jada decides to play mind games as well. Constantly taunting Sky, Jada hatches a plan that threatens her friendship with best friend Samira by using her cousin, Shawn. Will Sky find the power within herself to overcome the odds and continue the legacy of her father?

After 2017’s The Fearless One and 2019’s The Fearless Two, one would have thought the film franchise would come to an end after the events of the second film. However, interesting enough, there was enough to carry the legacy on, setting the film fifteen years after the second film. Like The Fearless Two, it carries as mostly a serious martial arts drama about the daughter of the fallen hero trying to carry his legacy but also ends with one of the most insane over-the-top endings to break away from the norm.

The only returnees from the previous films are Patricia Alves as Kimberly, Cody’s widow and Sky’s mother; and original star Alonzo Herran Jr’s Cody, who appears in dream sequences where in perhaps a nod to Zhang Yimou’s Hero and Andrew Lau and Wong Jing’s The Avenging Fist is mentally teaching Sky when she is meditating. There is also Omar Gooding, who reprises his commentator role from the second film along with Sarah Fina, whose Ava (or nickname “Kat”) has reformed herself and is now under the guidance of Mike, Sky’s stepdad and martial arts teacher played by Guyviaud Joseph.

However, the film’s driving force is young Essynce Moore in the role of central character Sky, who finds herself conflicted on so many levels. She is conflicted as she is tasked with carrying the legacy of her dad and yet, she feels sadness as she never known her dad. She also finds herself having to deal with new antagonists Jada and Rasheed, the twin son and daughter of The Fearless One central villain Jay. Despite their Aunt Sue telling them they should not get revenge, but rather carry Jay’s legacy, Jada is the mastermind who would rather get revenge for the day they never knew. Cameren Jackson brings a lot of sassiness to her role of Jada.

Taimak Guariello, the star of The Last Dragon, goes a different route here as Master Wadell. This time, he is the villain who is determined to enter the tournament with only one thing in mind. To win. He is the Sensei Kreese to Mike’s Sensei Miyagi as the film even references The Karate Kid where the factions have to leave each other alone before the tournament when things go too far. And prepare for the finale, which may start out predictable but then goes insanely over the top with a reference to an 80’s movie, but not the one you would expect.

The Fearless Three starts out as a legacy sequel and for the most part, pulls it off quite well. People will get a sense of nostalgia and those who love 80s films may enjoy this, especially the finale, which is jaw-dropping and a definitely WTF moment. However, you gotta love the references.

WFG RATING: B

Luxxe Entertainment presents a Royal Family Films/Hallmills Network film. Director: Jamal Hall. Producer: Shenita Straughn. Writer: Julius Burroughs; based on characters created by Alonzo Herran Jr. Cinematography: Nicholas Pietroniro. Editing: Jamal Hall.

Cast: Essynce Moore, Cameren Jackson, Taimak Guariello, Patricia Alves, Guyviaud Joseph, Cahlim McGure, Markice Moore, Nnyairaa Milton, Ayo Moore, Sarah Fina, Alonzo Herran Jr., Miguel A. Nuñez Jr., Omar Gooding, Tobias Truvillion.