Left to right: Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.
THE TURTLES are back!
You bet they are and so is the fun of going back to the theaters this summer for silly superhero action when Leonardo (Pete Plosek),
Donatello (Jeremy Howard), Raphael (Alan Ritchson) and Michelangelo (Noel Fisher) quite literally emerge from their sewer lair into the sunlight of Manhattan to an astonished worldwide public.
That’s when the fun begins.
And I mean fun as many of this summer’s blockbusters have been real downers—especially the extremely depressing “Batman V Superman”; so in this lighthearted sequel, the Turtles return to face their most dangerous foe including the notorious Shredder (Brian Tee) and a creepy mad scientist Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry).
Also along for the ride are cartoon favorites come to “life” in the mutated Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams), Rocksteady (Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly).
Oh, and let’s not forget the evil Krang (Fred Armisen).
Romance is also on tap when the luscious intrepid TV reporter April O’Neil (Megan Fox) meets up with the hockey-stick wielding Casey Jones (Stephen Amell from TV’s “Arrow”).
But at the heart of this film are—of course—the Turtles. Produced by Michael Bay (Transformers) and directed by Dave Green (“Earth to Echo”), Turtle Power has never been in better hands.
Filmed on location in Manhattan (of course), the coming out of the Ninja Turtles was highly anticipated in their 2014 film debut but carefully crafted to keep the green-tinted heroes away from the TV lights of the major new networks that have dominated other really great spandex wearing superheroes like The Avengers.
Stephen Amell as Casey Jones and Megan Fox as April O’Neil in a scene from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows”
Director Green keeps the action on the Fab Four and only diverts to introduce Jones and his butt-kicking hockey stick.
Of course Ms. Fox is along to provide the “eye candy,” moving effortlessly from a high school tramp to TV reporter in less than: 30 seconds. Or was it: 23? Who cares? The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cruise down 42nd Street at their own pace.
What are the negatives to this film? Actually none.
The film is well-paced and delivers on the constant one-liners and puns with great action set scenes, especially when the gang meets up with Rocksteady and Bebop.
Then again this is not Shakespeare, folks. It’s 110 percent Turtle action and yes, you can check your brain at the theater entrance.
The “violence” is all comic-book style. No one really gets hurt and even with their super agility and strength—the
“danger” to the Turtles pass by like water over the dam.
The best part of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the sheer joy of the main characters. The Turtles clearly like being around each other. There is no “Civil War” going on here—just tons of jumping, sword play and gags galore. Which is why this all works. The gang doesn’t fly through the air but you might think so with all of the leaping from one Manhattan skyscraper to another.
The reaction of their debut by the New York crowd is what you would expect if someone like Captain America and Iron Man really did exist. New Yorkers go crazy!
The casting of Amell as Casey Jones is spot-on and the chemistry between Jones and Fox’s O’Neil is pure energy. Bottom line: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” is a 10 on a 10 scale, a great family film that is best watched in IMAX format and not the standard 35 ft. tall silver screen.
Bottom line: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” is a 10 on a 10 scale, a great family film that is best watched in IMAX format and not the standard 35 ft. tall silver screen.
The outdoor scenes of Manhattan provide an awesome backdrop for … wait for it …Turtle power!
Questions, comments or travel suggestions, write me at theruffolos@readingruffolos.com.