From dressing as the Red Ranger for Halloween in kindergarten, to the Saturday mornings spent glued to the television before my parents were awake, “Power Rangers” has been a part of me since I was young. Saban’s entertainment goliath of a franchise has continued for over two decades, naturally lending itself to the plethora of films getting rebooted for a new generation, complete with Michael Bay-esque special effects.
This reboot feels different, though. For every attempt at bringing a classic franchise to the big screen, all too often the final result feels like its purpose is to expand the original property to be accessible to all audiences, which often can alienate and disappoint longtime fans. If there’s anything that can be said about Power Rangers, it’s that it never betrays Saban’s ‘90s classic.
This film is made for fans of the franchise, first and foremost.
Of course, this can be disappointing for anyone who isn’t a devout “Power Rangers” enthusiast, or anyone expecting a darker and more serious take on the franchise, based on the trailers. It’s cheesy, it’s campy and explosive, and feels like an episode of the television series that was given a $100 million budget.
The basic premise is structurally the same, telling the story of five teenagers “with attitude” who find a spaceship buried underground, receive superpowers and must defeat Rita Repulsa, a villain hellbent on the typical fare of destroying Earth.
Within the cast, character development is limited, with Jason, Kimberly and Billy receiving the bulk of the attention. Trini and Zack, while having potential for interesting insight, feel swamped by the focus on the romance between Jason and Kimberly, and the friendship between Billy and Jason. Because of this, it’s hard to feel anything for the two, but it doesn’t diminish the film much.
This is “Power Rangers,” for goodness sake. You don’t watch it for character development.
RJ Cyler is a particular standout amongst the cast, with Billy personifying much of the heart amongst the team and driving the movie forward with his simply likable nature. Rita Repulsa, portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, is one of the film’s shortcomings, as her portrayal feels less than sinister and ultimately more like a cheeky punching bag for the Power Rangers to do cool things.
Calling it a punching bag doesn’t lend enough credit to the action onscreen, with the last 30 minutes of the film emulating the energy of the television series to a masterful extent. While much of the movie struggles with finding the right tone between serious and cheeky, the film’s third act transforms into something straight out of the mind of Michael Bay mixed with a hint of ‘90s flair, and the end result is visually satisfying. From the classic “Go Go Power Rangers” theme being blasted, to the Megazord transformation and bad puns (with a curious amount of Krispy Kreme references) alike, any “Power Rangers” fan will find him or herself clapping and cheering throughout the final battle and all the way into the post-credits scene.
This is the ultimate highlight of a movie that doesn’t necessarily reach blockbuster status, but nonetheless is a heck of a time at the theater that never feels stale. The spirit feels exuded from every frame, and even when the movie doesn’t strike a perfect tone between serious and cheeky, there’s heart behind it, which is noticeable.
Director Dean Israelite isn’t going to do much for anyone who doesn’t like the original property, but for those who grew up watching on Saturday mornings, witnessed different incarnations and went through countless Red Ranger Halloween costumes, the end result is a lovable and passionate reboot that seeks to provide fan-service and provide an exemplary effort on live-action remakes done successfully.
Is it morphin’ time? Yes, it is indeed.
