POWER RANGERS – Review

I didn’t grow up singing “GO, GO POWER RANGERS!” I didn’t have a favorite ranger. The kid’s TV show turned toy empire was a little after my time, though I did catch parts while channel surfing. At that point I was starting to watch Jackie Chan and 90s action films, so the tepid fight scenes in THE MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS didn’t quite make an impression. And it’s not like anyone watched the hit series for the character development or acting in the first place.

While POWER RANGERS borrow the same ideas and similar visuals from the 90s show, the film tries to correct the two elements I just pointed out that the original show lacked. This time around the focus is on the kids and not their stunt doubles in the suits. Five high school kids come together under convenient circumstances one night in a rock quarry. The group unearths five mysterious coins which grant superhuman strength. Through the help of Zordon (think Bruce Wayne’s Alfred) and a silly robot voiced by Bill Hader, the group trains in order to defend Earth from the evil Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks, once again proving that no costume, hair or makeup is too much for her to act through).

If it sounds like your typical superhero origin story… it’s because it is. They are the outcasts turned heroes that we’ve seen time and time again. The influences are more prominent than their candy-colored suits. With everything from THE BREAKFAST CLUB, THE GOONIES, and Marvel’s cinematic universe as the most obvious influences, you would expect it to feel much drier that it actually is. Thanks to a diverse group of young talent, the teens aren’t the insufferable caricatures you would see in a high school CW show – in fact, they are actually quite likable. Since Billy’s character is much more defined than the others, the standout in the group is RJ Cyler (ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL). However, they all add some gravitas to their stereotypical emotional baggage.  

Accepting responsibility and being ready to protect the Earth as a team become central themes. What makes these worn out adages work is that you actually get swept up in their journey. While the film takes a little too long to get the team to suit up and into action, at least the action takes place in broad daylight, just as the final battles in the original show seemed to always be staged. The added bonus to this is that you can actually see what’s going on between these mech warriors and giant monsters – unlike the dark action sequences in something like PACIFIC RIM.

PROJECT ALMANAC director Dean Isrealite isn’t interested in just loud dumb Transformers-esque action, like a kid slamming his action figures together. He shows his commitment to the characters by not rushing the tender moments and delivering spirited and gritty direction when things get exciting. Kinetic camerawork from cinematographer Matthew J. Lloyd (who lensed the first season of DAREDEVIL) gives the film some much-needed energy even when the film indulges in the teenage angst.

POWER RANGERS strikes just the right balance of appealing to 20-somethings who watched the show (I went to the screening with one) while still appealing to pre-teens and teens – unlike similar attempts to do this, like the recent TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES films. You really get the feeling that these characters are discovering something new, even though the audience is not really watching anything new. If the inevitable sequels can continue to focus on the journey and team-building of the endearing leads, maybe the series can ditch the formulaic villain of the week TV approach and turn into a Megazord-sized franchise.

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5
POWER RANGERS is now playing in theaters everywhere