Why TMNT 2 Could Be Terrible Or Amazing
Whether you thought it was a welcome reboot to a now-legendary franchise or a CGI-laden abomination that has no reason to exist, 2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles performed well enough to prompt Michael Bay and company to make a sequel. That's kind of a mixed blessing for Turtle fans, since the sequel could certainly right the wrongs of its predecessor...or deliver a movie as bad as two week old pizza. Here now are the reasons why TMNT 2 might be amazing...or terrible.
It Has A New Director
If you didn't dig the work of the first movie's director, Jonathan Liebesman, good news! The sequel has a new director. And, really, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if you didn't feel super good about the first TMNT flick in this franchise, since it kind of jumped from action adventure to comedy to kids farce to creepy turtle-on-human romance. Liebesman knows how to make a good-looking film, but his previous credits of Wrath of the Titans, Battle Los Angeles, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, didn't necessarily bode well for his subtlety. A new director is a great idea.
But He Hasn't Directed Very Much
Then again, TMNT 2's new guy in the director's chair has only one other feature length film to his credit, the entirely forgettable Earth to Echo. Did that movie ever actually come out? At the time of this writing, it's got a rating of just under 50 percent on Rotten Tomatoes—though, we should point out, that's still much better than the scores of previous director Liebesman's other films. So, you know, maybe this new director will suck less.
Bebop, Rocksteady, And Casey Jones Are In
Heroes are often defined by the villains they fight. In the case of the Ninja Turtles, the usual go-to bad guy is the Shredder. He's back in the new movie, albeit with a new actor portraying the role, while his ever-imbecilic lackeys from the cartoon, Bebop and Rocksteady, have joined him in the flesh. There's little better than seeing the turtles beat up some other manimal-style mutants, so we should get some fun action. And Casey Jones is a fan favorite, so it's about time he makes his return to the franchise.
Is That…Good?
Part of the problem with the last movie was that it felt a bit too cartoonish despite its attempts to convince audiences it took place in anything resembling the real world. Relying on cartoon Doofuses like Bebop and Rocksteady will only make the movie that much dumber and harder to take seriously. Maybe the filmmakers want to make a silly live-action cartoon. If so, we suggest not having a plot that revolves around releasing a deadly virus around New York City, like the last one. Let's just put germ warfare on the "do not touch" list for kids movies, shall we?
The Actor Playing Bebop Is A Huge Comedic Talent
Gary Anthony Williams will portray the henchman who eventually gets turned into a bipedal warthog, and he's one of the funniest (and underrated) actors around. For proof, look no further than his brief role in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle and his work as Uncle Ruckus on the Boondocks. Any movie that gives Williams more exposure is definitely heading in a good direction.
But He Might Be Wasted In This Movie
Let's also not forget that Will Arnett is a comedic genius, whose talents seriously went to waste as the creepy, stalkery Vernon in the first flick (and he's set to return in the sequel). Just because you're funny doesn't mean you'll be able to do much to transcend a mediocre script. Let's hope the filmmakers learned from their past mistakes.
And Baxter Stockman Is Played By…Tyler Perry?
This could go either way, really. Perry briefly showed up as an admiral in the first Star Trek reboot. And he's here as Baxter Stockman, a role that was recast from the first film. It's not that Perry can't do a good job as Stockman...just that he only has a handful of acting credits in movies that he didn't also write and direct. Perry's acting resume is the cinematic equivalent of hanging your own artwork on the refrigerator.
Vernon Will Have A Girlfriend!
One of the worst parts about the Vernon character from the first movie was the way he couldn't take April's disinterest in him seriously. It got kind of gross—especially because this was, let's all remember, a kids movie. The new movie has cast model Alessandra Ambrosio as Vernon's girlfriend, which will hopefully lower his creep factor in the new flick, letting actor Will Arnett's comedic chops take center stage.
Stephen Amell Might Be The Perfect Casey Jones
Amell has achieved a lot of pop culture success with his role as the Arrow on the CW show of the same name. Sometimes Amell as Arrow (and his alter ego Oliver Queen) is right on the money. Other times, he misses the mark. But Amell's experience playing a vigilante in an over-the-top comic book world might be put to perfect use as Casey Jones in the new TMNT flick. Amell's Arrow is often too serious. But Casey Jones' frequent status in past TMNT adaptations as a vigilante parody might give Amell all the room he needs to go crazy big with the character.
We've Still Got A Bad Feeling About This
Look, maybe the new movie will rise above its previous iteration. But the first flick was really, really bad. It's a rare thing to find a sequel that manages to exceed the quality of the first. Sure, with a franchise starter this bad, there's nowhere to go but up, right? Even still, we can't help but think that the filmmakers trying to make this new TMNT movie work will have more of an uphill battle than they ever could've imagined.