Another day, another young adult sci-fi movie, this one particularly disappointing and generic in tone. A fresh-faced but incredibly bland young performer essays the title role, the usual high school jock kid who turns out to have incredible superhuman powers. He then goes on a quest to battle a madman bent on domination. If this feels like a sub IRON MAN type movie, easygoing in the extreme, then you'd be right. The acting is below par, with even old hands like Maria Bello and Andy Garcia on autopilot; the lead ends up saddled with a talking drone with a voice almost as annoying as Jar-Jar Binks. As for the generic action and cartoon CGI effects, give me a break...

Max McGrath (Ben Winchell) doesn't know much about his respected scientist father who died in a mysterious storm. His mother Molly (Maria Bello) brought him back to his father's old stomping grounds on the advise of colleague Dr. Miles Edwards (Andy Garcia). Max is a loner at school except Sofia Martinez befriends him. He's having strange effects and visions. Then an alien Steel escapes from his father's old lab and joins him. Max is emitting tachyon energy which, joined with Steel, is used to form the superhero Max Steel. Steel is an Ultralink alien and they end up battling other Ultralinks threatening to destroy the world.

I wouldn't say that this is horrible or irredeemable. It's simply weak stuff. Firstly, the Mattel name does not fill me with confidence. While Marvel and DC have gained credibility through some good work on the page and on the screen, Mattel has no such background. The very name denotes cheesiness on the big screen. I don't know anything about this IP's origins. The story is nothing special. There are a couple of first rate actors. There are a few twists. One is obvious from the start. Another one is head-scratching and less than reasonable. As an origin story, this is no Spider-man, Batman, or Superman. It's really another Young Adult movie at its heart and not terribly good even on that level. There are a few too many problems to overlook.

Contains PLOT SPOILERS for those not familiar with the series...like me.

Max (Ben Winchell) moves into his eighth or ninth house...back to his home town where his father (Mike Doyle) had died at NTEK in a tornado or explosion or both, but not an ordinary tornado. Max is interested in how his dad died, something no one talks about. As a teen Max undergoes changes and uses a device to release energy or else he will explode, but it is not puberty. It is tachyon energy and he needs the assistance of a silicon based creature called "Steel" go figure. Eventually Max changes into a Mighty Morphin Power Ranger with the help of Steel to save the planet from guys like Steel.

This production was to strictly introduce the character without much action. It worked as well as Ryan Reynolds as the Green Latrine. Max freaking out and running off got old. They even said so in the film.The Power Ranger battle was a snooze. Steel reminded me too much of the film "Short Circuit." They needed a better voice...something like Woody Allen talking about...whatever it is Woody talks about. Now what I don't understand is why the Ultralinks who want to destroy the planet go out of their way to get Max Steel first. Seems he could be an easy work around. Is there something I am missing, or does the plot have that gaping hole...like no one knows who the super heroes are because they where half a mask or take off their glasses? Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity. Max hits a wall and starts to say the F-word, but stops.