The super-successful and remarkably durable franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hits theaters again this weekend–with an all-star cast and one of the most well-loved brands in entertainment. Described as a “science fiction action comedy” the movie hopes to attract kids of all ages–especially the legacy audience that loved the first TMNT movie when they were kids in 1990.
The LA Times recognizes the Cowabunga! brand power of Renaissance turtles Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, expecting that TMNT may “outshell Guardians” at the box office. But the SF Gate calls the new Turtles “overblown, unoriginal.” And USA Today yells “empty shell” and asks what the “opposite of Cowabunga” is. Ouch. It may not matter though, because over 90% of audiences at Rotten Tomatoes wanted to see the movie, despite the fact that it was getting boiled like turtle soup on the tomatometer–with a 20% score. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cost $125 million to make. If it can get people to come who don’t need to spend their allowance, it’ll do great.
