Power Rangers Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

When Earth is at stake of getting destroyed by a wicked evil from outer space, five teenagers need to band together to save their world. It’s morphing time! 

Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy / Sci-Fi

Director: Dean Israelite

Cast: Dacre Montgomery, RJ Cyler, Naomi Scott, Ludi Lin, Becky G, Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, Bill Hader, David Denman & Erica Cerra.

Run Time: 124 min.

US Release: 24 March 2017

UK Release: 23 March 2017

German Release: 23 March 2017

As stated in my previous reviews for the early 90s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Saban’s TV show about superpowered teenagers with attitude was a phenomenon deeply embedded in my childhood. I woke up every Saturday early morning to catch the newest episode on TV. As such, when it was announced that a movie reboot was being planned for this franchise, I was intrigued but cautious, as this recent wave of remakes and sequels tends to destroy my cherished childhood memories. Surprisingly, I had a good time at the cinema with it. 

Power Rangers revolves around the same five teenagers from the series: Jason, Billy, Zack, Trini and Kimberly. This time, however, instead of being well-respected, well-behaved kids from the community, they are outcasts who accidentally stumble upon Zordon’s alien ship. When an invasion of the planet becomes imminent, the five teens must put their differences aside, as they learn to work together to harness their newfound powers to battle the threat. 

The story plus screenplay are probably the most conflicting parts of this blockbuster. While I appreciated the darker, grittier tone the director and producers were going for, it clashed with moments that are downright goofy or cheesy, especially when it comes to jokes. The tonal indecision really took me out of what could have been a more immersive experience. Worse still is the blatant Krispy Kreme product placement the movie shamelessly throws into the audience's faces.

It also makes use of clichéd superhero origin-story tropes, although this can be forgiven, as they’re handled rather well. It is basically a character-driven story, exploring the personalities of these five teenagers as they come together as a team. That said, the fact that it takes until the last twenty-five minutes to finally see the Power Rangers in action is a bit of a letdown, after all, this is what the flick has been named for. The final act also feels over-the-top, as well as riddled with inconsistencies, as it isn’t really explained how these pre-adults have the sudden knowledge of how to pilot the Zords. 

Two cameos near the end are meant to serve as nods to the original series. Unfortunately, it is a rather wasted moment, as the actors get no lines or purpose other than standing around, looking into the sky. 

The acting took me by surprise. I expected terrible, cheesy deliveries, plus over-the-top depictions. To my amazement, the core five actors gave grounded and relatable portrayals. Dacre Montgomery delivered a solid, layered performance as Jason Scott, leader of the Power Rangers. Naomie Scott is believable as Kimberly, just as Becky G, who brings real talent to Trini. Ludi Lin’s version of Zack was the only one that didn’t quite hook me, but his acting is still good. My favourite, though, is RJ Cyler as Billy. While he might come off as annoying at first, he quickly becomes the heart of the team and turns downright adorable. 

The one portrayal that disappointed me most was Elizabeth Banks as Rita Repulsa. She goes so over the top, it doesn’t fit the tone of the rest of the film. Similarly, Bill Hader’s Alpha 5 is corny and grating, clashing with the more grounded performances of the rest of the cast. This is not so much a criticism of Hader himself as it is that the character of Alpha 5 has always been one of the more tiresome elements of the franchise.

Bryan Cranston, who voiced several monsters in the original series, returns to the franchise as Zordon, delivering an effective recitation as the Rangers’ mentor.

The cinematography is ambitious, aiming to bring the superhero team to the big screen and raise it from its campy TV origins. The camera work is polished, the colour palette is given a desaturated look to give it more grit, yet the primary colours of the show still pop through. The opening scene, specifically the chase scene involving Jason, is extremely well executed. Unfortunately, the third act (though enjoyable) feels like a completely different picture, as it goes full bonkers with the Zords battling a giant gold monster. Technically, the CGI is a mixed bag: some scenes look great, while others appear cheap and unfinished. 

The iconic opening theme song “Go Go Power Rangers” also makes a triumphant comeback during the final act battle. 

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Verdict: All in all, Power Rangers is better than I anticipated - and frankly, better than it has any right to be. It’s no masterpiece, but it achieves what it sets out to do: it entertains thoroughly! By modernising plus grounding the story of the teenagers, it adds more grit, as well as realism. Unfortunately, the serious tone clashes with some of the more campy plot elements, while the third act feels like a completely different movie, albeit a delightfully amusing one. The flick also relies too much on CGI, which can be painfully obvious at times. The cinematography is competent at shooting action segments. The real highlight is the performances of the core five actors. Power Rangers deserves a 6.0 out of 10. 

Were the Power Rangers part of your childhood? If so, I believe you’ll have a good time revisiting them. If you’ve already seen it, did you enjoy this reboot? Leave a comment below to let me know. As always, thank you for reading!