Jan. 29--Anyone who grew up on a steady diet of Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles and Transformers will appreciate the good-natured "Lazer Team," a PG-13 goof on all those superheroes-save-the-world kids shows of the '80s.
Begun as an Indiegogo campaign and now a full-fledged feature film, "Lazer Team" is never hysterically funny but manages to capture the Saturday morning, kidvid sensibility.
Set in Milford, Texas, it focuses on two losers -- long-ago high school football players Hagan (Burnie Burns) and Herman (Colton Dunn) -- and two younger losers-in-training -- Zach (Michael Jones) and Woody (Gavin Free) -- whose fireworks horseplay out in the woods brings down an alien craft. The UFO was on a secret mission from good aliens to bring our government a special suit that a trained warrior would wear to battle an evil alien coming to destroy humankind.
Of course, our dunderheaded quartet finds the suit and each straps on a different part. Woody gets the helmet and experiences increased intelligence. Herman gets the boots and can run at light speed. Hagan gets an arm attachment that turns into a laser shield. Zach gets the other arm attachment that's a laser gun. Together, they make one superhero.
Because the new gadgets become a permanent part of the person wearing them, they can't be removed. So it's up to these cowardly four -- whom Zach dubs "the Lazer Team" -- to save the Earth from destruction.
The effects are cheesy but that's the point. The only thing missing from "Lazer Team" are constant commercial breaks for too sugary cereals.
"Lazer Team" -- 2.5 stars
MPAA rating: PG-13 (sexual material including references, strong language, action violence, teen partying and smoking)
Running time: 1:42
Opens: Friday
