Underdog Kids is a film directed by Phillip Rhee that premiered on July 7, 2015.
Plot
At the Mid-County Community Center, a coach quits teaching a ragtag team martial arts. Community Center leader Charlie is looking for a new coach when former mixed martial arts champion Jimmy Lee arrives, a protege of Charlie's whose career ended three years earlier after an accident. Reluctantly he agrees to teach the group. When Jimmy and the kids go to their first competition, Jimmy meets childhood rival Ted Barret, who is the coach of the three-time national karate champions, the Beverly Hills Scorpions. Ted has always held a grudge against Jimmy and lets his current fame influence others, despite the objections of his own son Eric. When the kids are humiliated, Jimmy decides to find a sponsor. However, Ted's influence leads Jimmy to a road of nowhere until old friend and food truck owner Big Mama decides to sponsor him. However, to get the sponsorship, Jimmy goes to the next competition dressed up as a big hot dog, even furthering the humiliation of the kids. When the kids learn Jimmy got them a sponsor, they are happy until they learn they will be known as the "Underdogs". When Big Mama tells the kids what Jimmy had gone through to get them sponsored and that no one would take them, the kids finally decide to go along with being the Underdogs. As they begin to train hard, Jimmy brings in a new member, the very quiet yet violent-prone Rasheed, whose mother wants him to learn martial arts for self-discipline. While the kids improve and begin to win, they win a big tournament that will lead them into a showdown with the Scorpions. As they begin to prepare, Alex and Sean's aunt Valerie teaches the Underdogs ballet and dance to help the kids with their rhythm. Scorpion members Andrew, Jake, and Cameron find the kids at dance school and secretly videotape the class. They post it to Youtube and the next day, the kids are teased, especially Rasheed, who is revealed to have a speech problem. Rasheed gets suspended but Jimmy finally has a talk with him. Jimmy and Rasheed learn they have a lot in common and decide to work together. However, Jimmy is finally given an opportunity to return to MMA and must leave the day before the big showdown. As he flies out to Las Vegas, he looks at the contract and realizes that MMA is not for him anymore. Jimmy walks away and returns in time for the big showdown between the Underdogs and the Scorpions.
The film was first announced on August 21, 2013. Underdog Kids is written, produced and directed by Phillip Rhee. The original title of the film was Underdogs. The first images and posters were released on September 14, 2014., and the film released on July 7, 2015. Rhee was quoted as saying that "By working with an award winning producing and directing partner Doug Magallon and Fabienne Wen, we were able to make “Underdog Kids” into one of those special films that will touch your heart and uplift your spirits", and that the main reason why the film was made was to "inspire families with stories of courage, friendship, love and honor" and the teach people to "never give up". Phillip went through over 600 children to find his final cast for the "Underdog kids". Simon Rhee, Phillip's brother served as the Stunt Consultant and James Lew was the 2nd Unit Director / Stunt coordinator and Marc Canonizado was the choreographer on the film. Arturo Sandoval composed the soundtrack and Jim Bolt worked as the sound mixer and designer. More images were revealed on the film's official website. Several well known martial artists will cameo in the film.
