Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows better than the last one

Movie Title:       Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

  

Grade:   C

Rating:   PG-13, 1 hour 37 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Cowabunga!  Well, it’s not as bad as the last one!  That’s not exactly a favorable endorsement, now is it? 

You can read my movie review of their 2014flick here. 

It’s full of things prepubescent boys and true Ninja Turtle fans will love: action, bodily function humor, a hot chick, high tech gadgets, explosions, destruction, and more action.

Uplifting theme: 

• Teamwork, brotherhood
• Embrace who you are and be the best THAT.

Things I liked:

• The turtles are much less obnoxious and gangsta as they were in the last movie.  They feel and even sound more like teenagers this time around.
• Funny slow-motion action sequences.
• Cute transformer costume in the parade in New York City in the beginning of the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• An “exposition” scene is one where the characters have to catch the audience up to speed by having the characters explain what’s going on to each other.  Almost every scene in this movie was like that.  Fans will feel talked down to.  Other viewers might just feel annoyed.
• There aren’t very many true NINJA sequences.  There was a lot of action, but it felt more like par core.  Still, the action has that high octane Michael Bay feel to it.
• There’s nothing fun after the rolling credits at the end.
• Because the target audience is young boys, you are correct in your assumption that there are plenty of spit wads and farts.
• Tyler Perry?  Whose idea was that?
• For some reason, it was the first time that it struck me as ridiculous that the turtles wear masks to protect their identity.
• Your sons are going to want to buy a drone.  Heck, I want to buy a drone.
• It takes less than 5 minutes for Megan Fox to strip down to a short school girl skirt and tie her shirt up to her chest, revealing her awesome abs and legs.  Of course, if I were a guy, I’d be including that observation in the “Things I liked” list.
• The turtle brothers fight and bicker a LOT.  It’s not funny, nor charming.
• The plot isn’t very good and most of the characters don’t have developed motivations.

Funny lines:

•  “I got one of those.  I’m kind of a big deal.” – Vernon Fenwick (Will Arnett)
• “You could live a normal life, like the rest of us.” – Rebecca Vincent (Laura Linney)

“Normal?  What fun is that?” – Raphael (Alan Ritchson)

• “I was looking for something worse.” – Donatello (Jeremy Howard)

“Like what?” – Raphael (Alan Ritchson)

“I don’t know.  Maybe a mustache or evil goatee.” – Donatello

• “I’m a nerd, not a geek.  Umm…It’s the difference between like “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter” or TED Talks and ComicCon.” – April O’Neil (Megan Fox)
• “It’s pizza on my Nike!” – basketball player

“Welcome to New York!” – Referee

• “Why are you wasting time talking to a grumpy, old rat?  Go get ‘em!” – Splinter (Tony Shalhoub)
• “You’re bringing back the Mohawk.  Good for you.” – Leonardo (Pete Ploszek)
• “Woah!  This is awkward.” – Raphael as he stared at a real turtle

Tips for parents:   

• Some profanity.
• None of these characters are great role models for your kids. The ninja turtles are disrespectful to each other and police officers.  Even April O’Neil steals things and breaks the law.
• Krang (Brad Garrett) might scare very young children with his mucousy tentacles and pointed teeth.