adamgehrke.com

Years since surviving a tragic laboratory fire, four turtles subject to mutagen tests, Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael (Pete Ploszek/Johnny Knoxville, Jeremy Howard, Noel Fisher, Alan Ritchson) have grown into humanoid versions of their original bodies. But growing up in the sewers of New York wasn’t always easy, former lab rat and adopted father, Splinter (Danny Woodburn/Tony Shalhoub), wisely spent their formative years teaching the turtles the ways of the ninjutsu for discipline and protection. But now, like most teenagers, the desire to get out of the house and explore the world has taken hold, before long vigilantes are made. As luck would have it, their timing couldn’t be better, the evil foot clan led by Master Shredder (Tohoru Masamune) has just launched plans to infect the city with a deadly virus. Will the turtles have what it takes to stop the terror and what about saving the woman who originally saved them, April O’Neil (Megan Fox)? Shot using a large amount of motion capture technology, this reboot of the Ninja Turtle franchise manages to embrace new technology and newer pop culture yet maintain a fair amount of the original charm of the Ninja Turtles from 25 years ago. Of course, like many reboots we’ve seen in the last ten years, TMNT embraces a significantly darker world with grizzly potential for human casualties. Still, a delicate balance between the absurd/levity and darkness somehow manages to keep this film from the gallows; although, particularly violent scenes may make this a bit of a push for younger audiences. Slight departures from earlier established plot lines do make for a few raised eyebrows for sticklers about mutant mythos. Lack of creativity in the storyline is also a valid concern, but come on, this is a film about giant mutant ninja turtles, how seriously do you really want to take this? Maybe a matinee if you’ve exhausted your other action options at the theatre, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is rated PG-13.