As a child of the 90s, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers were the Power Rangers I grew up with (on reruns as it debuted the year I was born) and fell in love with this mostly practical effects show that blew my young little mind. Looking back at the show today it holds a special place in my heart of sheer nostalgia and joy from this show that was very much a product of its time yet still somehow holds up with a modern lens. It never took itself too seriously, and truly captured the superhero aspect without overdoing it and the cast just had fun with it, even if their performances were less than stellar.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once and Always features all of our original rangers returning with David Yost as Billy, Walter Emanuel Jones as Zach, Catherine Sutherland as Kat, Steve Cardenas as Rocky, Barbara Goodson Robo Rita, Karan Ashley as Aisha, Johnny Yong Bosch as Adam, and Richard Horvitz as Alpha. There is one notable name missing from the cast, in Amy Jo Johnson but that has been debated and explained to death already. The film focuses on the rangers facing their familiar foe in a returning evil Robo Rita as she’s enrolled Robo Minotaur voiced by Ryan Cooper and Robo Snizzard voiced by Daniel Watterson to take down the rangers. While she shockingly kills Yellow Ranger, Trini and the remaining rangers who have not been captured are now trying to figure out how to break the news to Trini’s daughter, Minh played by Charlie Kersh.
There is a lot of grief and death that is dealt with in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once and Always and it definitely is not as aimed at young children as the television show from the 90s but it does it well. It makes the audience who this is targeted for connect with their emotions on a deeper level and have some stronger reactions because of the way they handle the all of the death and grief throughout the movie.
What works incredibly well for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once and Always is the fact that for most of the feature they truly do stick with that 90s vibe and do all of the practical effects and 60s inspired kapow fighting style. There is a moment that goes full CGI and it feels off and weird. With most of the cast returning and some fun twists and turns Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once and Always is truly a special for the kids that live in the adults that grew up on the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Audiences will truly enjoy the ride they’re taken on, so get ready for all the action and thrills, its morphin time!
