POWER RANGERS

POWER RANGERS is a science-fiction adventure reboot based on the television series that debuted in America in the 1990s and created a new franchise of entertainment and merchandising. This reboot is surprisingly entertaining, though it contains some issues and falters in the final act.

Jason Scott is a high school football player whose life seems over when he injures himself in a car accident while fleeing from police. James is placed on probation and into detention for the rest of the year. In detention, he meets a few other outcasts, including Billy, an autistic teen with an affinity for technology, and Kimberly, a girl struggling with depression when her friends ruthlessly abandon her.

Billy convinces Jason to drive him to a gold mine just outside their small town of Angel Grove, where Billy wants to do some experiments. While out by the mine, Jason runs into Kimberly hiking through the woods. The two decide to run away from their problems in their boring lives, but are cut short when Billy causes an explosion. The explosion catches the attention of two other teenagers who are nearby, Zack, an arrogant young man, and Trini, a moody girl who doesn’t talk much. The five teenagers investigate what Billy accidentally unearthed. They find five bright stones fossilized in some crystal. The gold mine’s security begins to approach, so they each take one of the colored stones and flee together in a minivan, but it results in a horrid car crash.

Each of teenagers wake up the next morning in their respective homes, unhurt and, to their surprise, super strong. The next day they meet at the mine and explore the area where they found the stones. They discover a spaceship underground and a humorous robot. The robot, Alpha 5, introduces them to Zordon (voiced by Bryan Cranston), a former Power Ranger, who’s stuck in the Morphing Grid, which manifests itself as a talking wall. Zordon tells the five teenagers of an impending doom that threatens Earth’s existence. He reveals they’ve been chosen to become the next Power Rangers to defend all of life itself.

However, none of the teenagers wants this awesome responsibility. So, the question becomes: Can this ragtag group of youths overcome their own insecurities and inadequacies to save the day?

POWER RANGERS is a surprisingly entertaining and well-crafted movie, especially in the beginning, but falls into familiar territory once the characters officially become Power Rangers in the final act. The cast of young actors holds their own. Helping them do that is some witty dialogue and inventive cinematography. Sadly, for people who aren’t diehard POWER RANGER fans, this isn’t enough to redeem the incredibly cheesy storyline, which includes literal dino-robots, rock monsters and a villain, who’s been lying in wait for 60-some-million years.

Overall, POWER RANGERS has a strong moral worldview with some light Christian, redemptive elements. At various times, it stresses sacrifice, selflessness, teamwork, and becoming more responsible.

Director Dean Israelite recently made headlines by revealing the character of Trini will be the first lesbian character in a superhero movie. This apparently is revealed when Zack asks Trini if she’s having “boyfriend problems,” to which she says, “Yeah, boyfriend problems.” He then asks, “Girlfriend problems?” and she responds with a look, and then continues. The scene isn’t definitive at all, except for the fact that the Director wanted extra press and explained the scene. Depending on the movie’s success, the filmmakers may explore this homosexual element more in the sequels.

Because of this politically correct angle and the movie’s foul language and action violence, MOVEGUIDE® advises strong caution.