The “heroes in a half shell” return after their successful live-action film in 1990. In the sequel, they not only face an old rival, but they learn their origins as how they came to find their destiny as the TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.

The film takes place after the events of the first film, where our heroes Leonardo (Mark Caso), Raphael (Kenn Scott), Donatello (Leif Tilden), and Michaelangelo (Michelan Sisti) live above ground with their good friend, news reporter April O’Neil (Paige Turco) and their martial arts mentor Splinter (Kevin Clash). After rescuing a local pizza delivery boy, Keno (Ernie Reyes Jr.), they seem proud of their recent actions yet Raphael is somewhat conflicted. He wonders why they cannot be seen when they are in action even though they have helped get rid of the Foot Clan and their leader, the Shredder.

Meanwhile, April has been doing a report on a chemical company, TGRI, who have been cleaning up after fifteen years under the supervision of Professor Jordan Perry (David Warner). After watching the report, Splinter decides it is time that his “sons” learn where they have came from. TGRI made a mishap fifteen years ago and one of the canisters ended up in the sewer where the turtles and Splinter ended up.

Learning their origins becomes the least of the turtles’ problems as the Shredder (Francois Chau) has returned and intends to get revenge. Learning of TGRI, he has Professor Perry kidnapped and forces him to use the ooze that turned the turtles to their present state to turn a baby wolf and snapping turtle into two mutants. The mutants, Tokka (Kurt Bryant) and Rahzar (Mark Ginther), may be intellectually inferior, but it is their strength that attracts the Shredder. Forcing the Turtles to take the mutants on, the Turtles suffer defeat but not before rescuing Professor Perry, who decides to help the Turtles create an “anti-mutagen” to stop Tokka and Rahzar before a final showdown with the Shredder.

Dedicated to the memory of Jim Henson, who worked on the first film prior to his untimely death in 1990, Henson’s son Brian took over for his father to create the suits and animatronics necessary to once again bring the Turtles to life. Somewhat looking different from the first film, it is to show that the Turtles have somewhat matured and have gotten a little older yet still face the same problems in terms of not only fighting with their rivals, but conflicted about being seen in public. The character of Donatello himself becomes conflicted in learning their backgrounds when he feels all isn’t exactly what it seems.

The only two to return to playing the Turtles from the first film are Michelan Sisti and Leif Tilden, who play Michaelangelo and Donatello respectively. This time, Leonardo is played by Mark Caso and Raphael is played by martial artist Kenn Scott, credited under his real name of Kenn Troum. Returning to voice Michaelangelo and Leonardo respectively are former child star Robbie Rist and Brian Tochi, best known for his role as Takashi in the hit 80′s comedy REVENGE OF THE NERDS. Replacing the voices for Raphael and Donatello are Laurie Faso and Adam Carl respectively.

Meanwhile, the Turtles have not the Shredder again to deal with, but a band of new mutants in the forms of Tokka and Rahzar. Stuntmen Kurt Bryant and Mark Ginther play the new mutant baddies in the suits and while they may seem not the brightest apples of the bunch, they prove to be quite a threat for the heroes in a half-shell.

The final showdown between the Turtles and Tokka and Rahzar takes place from a construction site to a nearby night club where 90′s nostalgia hits hard in the form of Vanilla Ice playing the performer at the club and he unleashes the legendary Ninja Rap.

Like its predecessor, the film has some adequate martial arts sequences from legendary Hollywood fight choreographer and martial artist Pat E. Johnson. While Kenn Scott, who would later gain fame for his role in the underrated SHOWDOWN (1993) opposite Billy Blanks, has martial arts experience, he was able to get some downtime while being doubled. Doubles for the Turtles this time around were Larry Lam, Steven Ho, Ho Sung Pak and Nick Palma. Ernie Reyes Jr. handles his own in his fight scenes as pizza delivery boy and new Turtle ally Keno. If one looks carefully, when Keno attempts to infiltrate the Foot, during the first meeting of the wannabe Foot soldiers, one can spot a young Michael Jai White, who sadly gets no action in the film.

A decent sequel, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE, definitely appeals to kids and like its predecessor, has some nice martial arts sequences. Sadly, the same can’t be truly said for the final installment, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III (1992).

REVIEW: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), 7.5 out of 10 based on 4 ratings

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  • http://twitter.com/4typhive Shawn Frierson

    I remember seeing this in the movie theater. It was a great movie going experience for a 10yr old. Then Vanilla Ice came on to top it all off. Can't hate

  • hvc

    It's funny how different the first and second films are in both tone and direction, but they're both equally strong for different reasons. The first is just an excellent movie, the second is a good kids movie. They really gimped the seriousness of the first film in lieu of more gags and comedy sidekicks. Fortunately, the gags mostly work, though Keno is no Casey Jones, and the film is very funny. You'll notice the action is less fight scenes and more stunt oriented in this one, to make it more kid friendly and fantastical from the grit and immediacy of the first film.

  • tikkiexx

    man this movie did not age well. i tried to watch it a few days ago and barely made it thru it. lol. i remember being so disapointed in this movie when it came out. and i was a huge Turtles fan. i didnt find the jokes funny at all, the action was terrible, everybody acted retarded, Tokka and Rahzar sucked balls, and the only Turtle that used his weapon was Donatello, my least favorite. and the Vanilla Ice thing was cheesy even back then. Ernie Reyes was probably the best part of the whole flick. i was around 14 at the time and i think the movie was aimed at the 5 – 10 year old crowd. after the awesomeness of the first movie the tone of the sequel was pretty jarring.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MOV3OYPOGTCRWGGIHUDKXV7KTY Bone

    it shit