The Power Rangers International Trailer Reveals Movie’s Biggest Flaw
By Buckie Wells
While the Power Rangers international trailer doesn’t add a lot of new footage, it does reveal a certain plot point that could ruin the whole movie.
At this point, we’ve gotten enough Power Rangers content to figure out how this movie’s going to go. We know what’s being retconned and we’ve seen White Rita Repulsa create weird, gold sand monsters. Admittedly, the Zords are pretty beautiful and I like the cast.
But thanks to the new international trailer, I know exactly what this reboot is going to have a hard time selling to the audience.
Watch below, then we shall discuss.
Immediately, the trailer opens with “none of us really know each other,” spoken by Red Ranger / Jason Scott.
Err — wrong!
The beauty of the Power Rangers is their friendship. Yes, diversity. But also, their inclusive friendship with each other. Before being ninja warriors or “teenagers with attitude,” the Power Rangers were a group of friends that loved bowling and loved Angel Grove. They hung out in the community and roller-skated. Whereas, these new Power Rangers appear to consist of at least two delinquents.
I take a lot of issue with Lionsgate now. Because this means they’re going to spend two hours establishing their friendship and trust with each other. It’s like watching Spider-Man’s origin story for a third time in a row. We know how it’s going to end, so cut to the chase. Even for anyone not familiar with the franchise, it would be better spending time on the intricacies of galactic warfare than a darker, melancholic version of The Breakfast Club.
Of course, Lionsgate hopes this franchise will soar. Unfortunately, they’re pinning a lot of their hopes and dreams on a lot of nobodies. Yes, Bryan Cranston’s face is in the wall, and Bill Hader is voicing Alpha, which is basically a weird reinterpration of BB-8, if BB-8 actually spoke and had limbs. But everyone else is relatively new to mainstream audiences, including Dacre Montgomery, the lead. He’s the closest thing to the uber-bankable Zac Efron they could get without actually casting Zac Efron. But so far, he’s been only okay as both the lead and Kimberly’s love interest.
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Which is all simply to say, Lionsgate faces an uphill battle. If they can’t convince the audience of a genuine friendship between this cast, the movie’s not going to work.
And I really want the movie to work when it opens on March 24, 2017.