Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is available in Australia on Paramount Plus, and in the US on Paramount Plus Premium right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Pete Ploszek leads a cast with real comic timing. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Paramount Plus.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. After supervillain Shredder escapes custody, he joins forces with mad scientist Baxter Stockman and two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop and Rocksteady, to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take on Shredder and his new crew, they find themselves facing an even greater evil with similar intentions: the notorious Krang. The chemistry Pete Ploszek and Alan Ritchson bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows came out in 2016. The timing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows respects your intelligence. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Pete Ploszek sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.