Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991) by Jacob B — 20 Jul 2017

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze has glimmers of wit, some decent fight choreography and, in my opinion, more expressive animatronics than in the first film. It does look a bit dated, sure, but it seems slightly easier for their facial expressions to be recognized this time around.

Sadly, this film came during a time when Hollywood faced one of its biggest threats yet...angry parents. I'm not joking, this movie came out a year before Batman Returns, which people seemed to enjoy yet couldn't escape the wrath of the pissed off mother who took her son to see it because he loves the Caped Crusader.

Thanks to the parents, this film takes a more lighthearted tone, differing greatly from the dark tone of the first film. I find it funny to see the Shredder be shocked upon realizing that his two large mutant minions were still young "BABIES!!! THEY'RE BABIES!!!".

Alas, this film can't escape from an occasionally uneven screenplay, some shark-jumping courtesy of an extended cameo from Vanilla Ice back when he was famous and not some B-list celebrity and preposterous plot.

For kids and hardcore TMNT fans, it should be a decent movie. It also serves as a good bit of nostalgia for those who grew up with the original 1990's live-action trilogy...which had an animated sort-of sequel in 2007 like what Bryan Singer did with Superman Returns.

Anyone else, however, who watches this movie and hope it lives up to the first film because they loved the first one will probably be left shell shocked. Yes, I know what shell-shocked means. It just feels appropriate in this situation since it involves turtles.

Deal with it.