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POWER RANGER SEQUEL `TURBO’ IS CHEAP AND WEAK

The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers made their television debut on Aug. 29, 1993 (doesn’t it seem longer, parents?), and during the last 3 1/2 years, they have been undying in their devotion to truth, justice and selling as many action figures as you can stuff into a toy store shopping cart. Their cinematic debut, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie,” was such a monster hit in 1995 that the ethnically diverse and physically well-toned Rangers are back for a new adventure on the big screen.

Like most sequels, this one is worse than the original. The special effects look cheaper, the villains aren’t as evil and the action sequences have all the vitality and creativity of the later, lethargic “Karate Kid” movies. There also have been replacements among the Power Rangers themselves (Mighty Morphin burnout?), but the new kids on the superhero block don’t seem nearly as gung-ho (Power Ranger ennui?).

As the story begins, the Rangers, who live in Angel Grove, Calif., are summoned to the lair of their spiritual leader, Zordon, and his robotic lackey, Alpha 5. In this film, Zordon lives in a tube that resembles one of those pie displays you see at delicatessens; there, they are given their instructions. (Cue creepy music.)

It seems that the evil space pirate, Divatox, is on the loose again, seeking to rescue the love of her life, the fiery creature Maligore, from his volcanic prison. But such a feat would require passing through the dreaded Nemesis Triangle, a maneuver that requires supernatural assistance. Which is why Divatox — a spiked-heel dominatrix type — is seeking to kidnap the cute and cuddly Lerigot, a gentle troll-like figure who possesses the key of knowledge (which allows passage through the Triangle). The Power Rangers must stop Divatox before she reaches Maligore and spreads greater evil throughout the universe.

No Power Ranger adventure would be complete without some kind of product tie-in. This time around, it is the tacky-looking “Turbo-Zords,” which are basically souped-up cars and trucks, a different one for each Ranger. With names like “Red Lightning,” “Desert Thunder,” “Wind Chaser,” “Dune Star” and “Mountain Blaster,” the vehicles are presented to the young audience with all the subtlety of a car commercial. And you can bet the kids will want all five. Or make it six, since the five turbo-zords can fit together to create the all-powerful “Megazord.”

The audience of children with whom I watched this film seemed unimpressed by the story, especially because the Rangers spend so little time in their colorful costumes, which is the only way they can exhibit their super powers.

“Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie” looks so cut-rate, there’s probably a good chance it’ll turn a profit. We can only hope it’s not big enough to warrant a third film in the series. Unless, of course, the filmmakers were to spice things up by having the Power Rangers go mad with power and turn on each other like hungry animals, ripping each other to shreds and gnawing on each others’ bones.

That, I’d pay to see.

”TURBO: A POWER RANGERS MOVIE”

(star)

Directed by David Winning and Shuki Levy; written by Levy and Shell Danielson; produced by Jonathan Tzachor; photographed by Ilan Rosenberg; production designed by Yuda Ako; A 20th Century Fox release. Opens Friday. Running time: 1:39. MPAA rating: PG.

THE CAST

Tommy, Red Power Ranger …………………….. Jason David Frank

Adam, Green Power Ranger ……………………. Johnny Yong Bosch

Katherine, Pink Power Ranger ………………… Catherine Sutherland

Tanya, Yellow Power Ranger ………………….. Nakia Burrise

Justin, New Blue Power Ranger ……………….. Blake Foster

Rocky, Old Blue Power Ranger ………………… Steve Cardenas

Divatox …………………………………… Hilary Shepard Turner