Power Rangers have not gone anywhere. From the 1993 premiere of the original series to the modern day, there are always one or two iterations of the concept on TV. However, for all the unique takes on teenagers in spandex punching monsters, the original Mighty Morphin gang holds a special place in many peoples' hearts. Once & Always celebrates that original series with a warts & all recreation.
Director Charlie Haskell has been attached to the Power Rangers franchise for two decades now. Writers Becca Barnes and Alwyn Dale have also been involved in a variety of spin-off series. The returning cast members have been the biggest selling point of Once & Always, but the returning filmmakers clearly have a lot to add to the special.
Once & Always sees the return of a few of the original Rangers to face a classic threat. Rita Repulsa has emerged again, now in a largely robotic form. In the opening scene, she engages the five classic teenagers with attitude, most of whom stay eerily quiet. Yellow Ranger Trini Kwan sacrifices her life to save Blue Ranger Billy Cranston and the loss rocks the team. Black Ranger Zack Taylor adopts Trini's teenage daughter Minh and trains her to fight like a Power Ranger. Robo Rita rises once again, announcing her plan to capture the Rangers and use them as a fuel source for her latest scheme. She and her lackeys capture a ton of heroes, leaving Zack, Billy, and the second Red and Pink Rangers to save their friends.
Viewers who have been looking for their opportunity to jump into the Power Rangers franchise need to keep looking. This is for fans of the original 90s series and absolutely no one else. Kids who enjoy the current series might get something out of the film, so parents who remember the classic series can guiltlessly put it on for their children. Anyone outside those two demographics should skip this film. Much of the special is dedicated as a memorial to original Yellow Ranger actress Thuy Trang. Trang tragically died in a car accident in 2001, but this special canonizes her passing in character and allows its main characters to process a percentage of that grief. Charlie Kersh appears as Trini's daughter Minh, providing an element of legacy to the event. Original Green/White Ranger actor Jason David Frank passed away less than six months ago, but he doesn't get quite the same level of fond remembrance. That aspect of the special might be a bit difficult for some, but dedicating Once & Always to Frank and Trang is as close to a purpose as it gets.
As a film, arguably as a television special, Once & Always is a decent entry in the Power Rangers canon. Returning talent Walter Jones, Steve Cardenas, Catherine Sutherland, and David Yost carry the project well enough. It's always a treasure to hear Barbara Goodson have a great time as Rita Repulsa and Richard Horvitz return to the role of Alpha for the first time in 20 years. There are cameos by Johnny Yong Bosch and Karan Ashley that may be a big moment for fans. Everyone's delivering the overblown performances expected from the medium, frequently selling lines with a comical amount of enthusiasm. The snarky back and forth works and everyone gets to shout their catchphrases, but there's something awkward about the show trying to use modern slang. It's hard to know how excited returning fans will be for this event, but there are better legacy sequels out there.
The only thing that could draw newcomers to Once & Always would be the action. It's decent, clearly employing a ton of stunt performers to pull off feats of acrobatics. The plot contrives a reason to keep the Rangers out of their costumes for a fair chunk of the story, allowing Jones and Yost to throw down in casual clothes. The hand-to-hand combat is solid and the goofy practical effects stand out. When the film breaks out CGI, it looks comically rough, but the big shiny suits are deeply charming. Unfortunately, the lone scene with a Megazord is brought to life with special effects that look like they were pulled from Robot Chicken, rather than the traditional people in suits approach. It's a mixed bag, but hardcore fans will forgive its dodgier moments.
At the end of the day, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always is exactly what it wants to be. It captures the good and the bad parts of the original source material, and it finds a worthwhile purpose as a loving tribute to its stars. The stars of the film and the performers who are no longer with us earn the love they've received from the fanbase. This will bring a smile to the face of some adults who grew up with Power Rangers and some kids who enjoy the new shows, but anyone outside those two demographics can safely skip it.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always