Some movies really don't need to be reviewed. And "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie" is a perfect example, as the target-audience isn't going to care in the least what critics have to say.
A stretched-out, big-screen television episode, albeit with a bigger budget, "MMPR" is loaded with razzle-dazzle special effects, some of which are surprisingly cheesy. (Though there is an effective, computer-generated climax with heavy-metal monsters battling it out, an interesting combined homage to "Godzilla" and the stop-motion special-effects work of Ray Harryhausen, of "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" and "Jason and the Argonauts" fame.)But the six kids in the title roles - who are undeniably athletic - can't act. And if there was ever a script, it seems to have been left behind while everyone went on location.
The entire film plays like a series of music videos, stealing randomly from dozens of other fantasy pictures, including "The Wizard of Oz," "Jurassic Park," "Alien" - even the genie from Disney's animated "Aladdin" - to name just a few.
There is one near-saving grace, however - Paul Freeman. His scenery-chewing villain is great fun, and the veteran actor (best-known as the villain in "Raiders of the Lost Ark") is obviously having a great over-the-top time. All dolled up in purple makeup and a pointy goatee as Ivan Ooze, his goal is to - what else? - rule the Earth. But he spends most of his time cracking wise, with plenty of contemporary entertainment references, as when he bemoans the things he missed while being out of circulation for 6,000 years - "The black plague, the Spanish Inquisition, the "Brady Bunch" reunion!"
So those six teeny-boppers from Angel Grove take on their MMPR personas and karate kick together to save the world.
Along the way, parents of Angel Grove teens are turned into zombies, the MMPR discover their inner animal selves, and we get to see them sky dive, skate and fly to a distant planet, all set to rockin' and boppin' music.
Of course, this is a Hollywood movie, and there are always questionable elements. In addition to the expected violence, the chauvinistic decision to have the boys fully clothed and the girls in tight tops and short shorts seems a bit misguided. Even worse, however, is the scantily clad female version of "The Beastmaster" (Australian actress Gabrielle Fitzpatrick), who shows up when the MMPR visit another planet (she is first introduced in what appears to be a secondhand Obi-Wan Kenobi Halloween outfit).
Still, those are things only a concerned parent (or a blooming male adolescent) would notice. The very young children sitting around me had a great time, despite some mildly scary imagery and, of course, the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"-style violence.
The film is rated PG, for the violence and a few mildly vulgar gags.