
DATE: Thursday, April 3, 1997               TAG: 9704020049

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Movie Review

SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC 

                                            LENGTH:   75 lines

NEW RANGERS MOVIE LACKS POWER

BUTTON UP your wallet and pretend you're deaf.

If you're the parent of a TV-age early-teen, it may be to no avail. Many of you are sentenced to see ``Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie,'' whether you like it or not. The designated driver for the neighborhood pre-license gang will probably be the hero of the week.

The color-coordinated teen superheroes are back on the big screen. The bold colors and frantic movement may well be enough to hold their fans' attention. And, for the adults that get roped into it, there is a hilariously over-the-top appearance by a boldly cleavaged villainess named Divatox who is camp supreme. This devil woman (Hilary Shephard Turner) plans to mate with Maligore, the fiery master of evil who is imprisoned in an active volcano. Consequently, she plans to rule the Earth and go on an endless shopping spree.

This one-time craze may have run out of gas. The ratings for the TV show, which began in 1993, are still high but it hasn't been in the craze category lately. Don't tell that, though, to the young audience members. They might not be as numerous but they're just as enthusiastic, and they're obviously thrilled to see their TV heroes on the big screen.

The first movie, 1995's ``Power Rangers - the Movie'' was more serious, and had a sense of mystery. But it got a critical berating on the violence quota. In an obvious attempt to avoid the stigma, the new movie keeps to the standard good vs. evil theme and over-the-top mood.

There is, though, the fact that Rocky, the Blue Ranger (Steve Cardenas), gets sidelined early in the game with a broken leg. The fact that he is replaced by his preteen brother Justin (Blake Foster) is an obvious hint that this one is going for a younger audience.

Jason David Frank, always earnest, is the leading man, Tommy, the Red Ranger. The ethnically balanced remaining quartet includes girls in shorts. They represent the ``Baywatch'' contingent while Maligore takes care of the ``Godzilla'' fans. With the exception of the new member, the Rangers look about 23 going on 25. There is a cameo appearance by Austin St. John, who was at varied times both the Red and Gold ranger, and Amy Jo Johnson, the original Pink Ranger.

The film is produced, co-directed and co-written by Shuki Levy, formerly the husband of Norfolk's own Miss USA-Virginia, and ``Dallas'' veteran, Deborah Shelton. The world premiere of one of his earlier films, which, unfortunately, never got to theaters, took place in Norfolk. This one should easily make its money back, if not in theaters, in stores. The sets often look so shaky that it wouldn't take a volcanic explosion for them to collapse.

The plot, which even a rocket scientist might have trouble explaining, involves rescuing Lerigot, a troll-like wizard (an Ewok lookalike) who has the only key to getting Maligore out of the volcanic island hideaway. Zordan, the good-guy leader, who speaks from what looks like an upside-down goldfish bowl, now has a new Zord (special power) for his charges. In the original series it was dinosaurs. In the first movie, it was animals. Here it is cars. They look like only moderately modified family vehicles.

A sign of the takeover of depersonalized tech? It's more a sign of moneygrubbing. The vehicles, you can bet, will be merchandised at your local toy store - in multicolors. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

20th CENTURY FOX

Blake Foster, as Justin, the new Blue Power Ranger, realizes his

dream of joining his heroes in ``Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie.''

Graphic

MOVIE REVIEW

``Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie''

Cast: Jason David Frank, Steve Cardenas, Johnny Young Basch,

Catherine Sutherland, Nakia Burrise, Blake Foster, Paul Schrier,

Austin St. John, Hilary Shepard Turner

Director: Shuki Levi and David Winning

Screenplay: Shuki Levy and Shell Danielson

MPAA rating: PG (some violence, but bloodless)