This reboot of the much-loved early 90s classic shows the mighty five Power Rangers haven’t yet fallen

This is a curious film. It should be absolutely appalling.

Based on the micro-budgeted TV series of the late 80s, Power Rangers have deemed themselves worthy of tackling the Avengers via Pacific Rim with a little tickle of Transformers. You know what? They almost do it too.

4

Using the first 90 minutes of this 2 hour(!) reboot as an origin story, the screenwriters deserve a good portion of praise.

The high school kids turned superheroes story is one we are all bored to the back bum with, so credit to them for doing their damnedest by trying something new.

It begins as The Breakfast Club from millennials, comprising of a quarterback, a hottie, an autistic, a carer and a lesbian (the lesbian is sadly, uttered as an outsider rather than just being a matter-of-fact-gay women, but were getting there).

4

MOST READ IN FILM

CONTROVERSIAL LIFE

This is what Ma Anand Sheela is up to now

20 years on

Where the cast of Bridget Jones are now… from Mr T*ts Pervert to Mark’s Natasha

I SMELL CHILDREN

Who plays the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

'INAPPROPRIATE'

Cuties on Netflix twerking poster drama explained

Along the way however, it shines a light on sexting, revenge porn, bullying discrimination and disability in a completely unpatronising way - one that kids will resonate with.

So, the mighty five are brought together in (obviously) the strangest of circumstances and must learn to behave like a team and treat each other with respect yada yada before they can realise their destiny and thingy thingy into power rangers.

4

That’s all you need to know - it borrows stems of story from all the movies it looks like.

But the final half hour, once morphing has finally commenced and Zorgs are finally discovered, becomes a glossier version of the TV showdowns we all hazily remember.

There’s a relatively lame baddy who’s into harvesting gold and seeking a crystal which can end mankind and stuff like that and there’s also at least an entire day in front of a green screen from Bryan Cranston as their mentor looking like a Midge Ure video.

4

Where they’ve spent on SFX they've purposely held back on everything else and it’s better for it.

The producers know we’ve seen realism in our robots and exhilarating explosions so it doesn’t try to compete - it sticks to what it’s good at.

This is not a film to trouble Marvel - but if I were Michael Bay on my millionth exploding skyscraper at the hands of Optimus Prime, I might be sweating a fair amount - because in place of a gazillion dollar budget, Power Rangers has a ton of heart - not a lot more - but enough in this case.

GREAT QUOTE: “Have any of you morphed before?” “Only in the shower.”

Power Rangers (12A) 124 mins
★★★☆☆