Go, go, Power Rangers! Ok...the TV show came along at the right time when I was in my youth. I like a couple TV spinoffs of that show but I was not completely gaga over them because I found the series a bit over-the-top with its dialogue and some of its erratic editing. However, the series infused a certain cartoonish flavor that had 90s kids with bewilderment. It is the sense of imagination that is inserted in kids' craniums in that era that allowed fans, both male and female, to have the imagination in their playground activities where they pretend to be the Power Rangers. Now, even though I had low expectations such as the other movie, Life, coming out, and I was totally surprised by this movie even though its campy in some areas in terms of dialogue and some action and one other performance. However, for what this level of camp is, the movie works.
There is some backstory in the realm of the Power Rangers as the Green Ranger, Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks) betrays her comrades by seeking out the Zeo Crystal to have power over the world. Rita offers the Red Ranger, Zordon (Bryan Cranston), the sole survivor of the group to join her but he refuses. Zordon now lives within the Morphing Grid with the robot, Alpha-5 (voiced by Bill Hader), awaiting who the next group of Rangers will be and are chosen to save the world.
Star football player Jason Scott (Dacre Montgomery) is a troublemaker as he is forced to attend weekend detention classes for the rest of the school year. His father disapproves of his attitude as he tells Jason that he is throwing his prospects away to hang out with such degenerates. He meets other people such as Billy Cranston (RJ Cyler), an autistic kid who arranges pencils by color, Kimberly Hart (Naomi Scott), a former cheerleader, supposedly for hitting an ex-boyfriend. Billy thanks Jason for defending him over a bully and to thank him, he removes Jason's ankle bracelet that is a tool for house arrest.
After removing the bracelet, Billy asks Jason for a favor in return. The guys go by a hill exploring a specific location, while they find Kimberly swimming. Meanwhile, Zack Taylor (Ludi Lin), another student, is watching the new girl, Trini (Becky G), performing yoga. Billy causes an explosion on the side of the hill, persuading everyone to come at that site. They see on the wall power coins and as they retrieve them, an alarm sets off and prompts to escape. However, the kids are unharmed and miraculously escape and they become stronger than usual as they return to the hill to experiment with their powers. However, they stumble upon a secret underground lake that hides into the cavern of a spaceship here they awake Zordon and see Alpha-5.
Remember Suicide Squad last year? Well, there's a gang of heroes that had a hodgepodge of personalities that was all over the place but I never bought them as a squad that could work together because of its screenplay with the terrible plot. It does have a typical "save-the-world" plot with a very cartoonish performance by Elizabeth Banks but the difference between this movie and Suicide Squad is their teamwork and chemistry between themselves. I like that there is subtle depth to these characters as we ponder the questions as to why either Kimberly is acting like a troublemaker and a victim and why Jason threw his prospects away.
Now, there is a good product placement strategy involving Krispy Kreme that will probably gear sales for their donuts as it is vital to the movie's climax. It is a bit laughable and a bit tense but it is a bit silly at times with Banks being in another universe in difference with this movie. The action sequences are a bit inconsistent in its tone whether it goes from dark and interesting to cartoonish and soft. However, you cannot fault a movie like this as it is a movie aimed at younger viewers and/or nostalgic Power Rangers viewers. I am recommending this movie marginally because for the main reason that it is simply a good time at the theaters, no more, no less. But, it is a bit questionable if you want to re-watch the movie after it is over. It is a popcorn film and you can laugh and be entertained by the cartoonish but enjoyable movie.
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