The idea of Batman teaming with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles isn't so shocking. The team-up has already occurred in print, in fact. Besides, can it be any more surreal than those nifty moments when Batman (and Robin) interacted with Scooby-Doo's Mystery Inc.?
In the case of DC/WB/Nickelodeon's new animated feature, "Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", the Caped Crusaders (Batman, Robin {Damian Wayne}and Batgirl) investigate the theft of Gotham's high tech (a powerful generator, to be exact). Lo and behold, the trio isn't alone to decipher why. Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raffael are also in hot pursuit, aware that their faithful adversary, Shredder might be involved.
Neither side knows they're working the same cause. From out the touchy conundrum, some testing-of-the-waters occurs, in the way of the '60s Batman/Green Hornet crossover. In other words, while petty tensions rise, the good guys do iron things out before long. So much for the antagonistic title...
The rally is directed by Jake "Death of Superman" Castorena and scripted by Marley "Mask of the Blue Falcon" Halpern-Gaser, based on the Freddie Williams/James Tynion DC/IDW six-part comic. Beyond the tech theft (a prelude to something bigger), their fable digs deeper into Batman lore than that of our half-shelled heroes. Why not? Batman's world lands a more freakish punch featuring old standbys like the Joker, Harley Quinn, the Scarecrow, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Bane and Ra's al Ghul. (BTW: The latter and Shredder have formed an eternal League of Assassins/Foot Clan cleansing pact. Goes to reason...)
Considering that the ninja-ish Batman has faced mutants like Man-Bat, Killer Croc and Clayface, the Turtles visiting his mythology goes to reason. However, its tonality could have gone down any number of paths. With the Dark Knight, scenarios can be presented per high camp, sinister seriousness or as in this nimble instance, a blended blotch.
Still, it's a darker strand that dominates the film's fights, in which even the Penguin engages with hard-ass effect. Though the bouts aren't ultra-violent, they're not prancy dancy, either. (Oversensitive parents won't like what unfolds for the sake of their oversensitive young. Boohoo. So, what else is new?)
I, a seasoned middle-aged man, enjoyed this energetic endeavor to the max. Considering the repetitive nature of some of DC/WB's films, including the recent "The Justice League vs the Fatal Five", I found the Bat/Turtles merger promising: a winner that could have been a loser, if not for its deft distribution. (My only complaint: April O'Neil was nowhere to be found. Now, there's a handy honey who'd make even the best of the best all the better. Cowabunga!)
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