Freeze Frame: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (PG-13), “Meg 2: The Trench” (PG-13), “Shortcomings” (R), “Dreamin’ Wild” (PG)

After nearly 40 years, countless comics, five TV series and four feature films, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles just keep mutating. The farcical animated feature “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is probably the best of the lot. Cowabunga! The inventive animation technique and clever voice work add some zip to an otherwise very familiar story. For nostalgic fans and their young kids, this retread is as welcome as a fresh slice of pepperoni pizza.

It’s still not safe to go back in the water. “Meg 2: The Trench” is the sequel to Jason Statham’s surprise 2018 hit about a giant, bloodthirsty prehistoric shark. This time out, multiple behemoths are released from their undersea dwelling by unscrupulous mining interests. While it has some reasonably exciting action scenes, this overlong thriller gets progressively sillier as it goes along. “Meg 2” has jumped the shark.

You’re really taking a chance when you name a movie “Shortcomings.” Justin H. Min plays Ben, an irritating, self-centered jerk in what might be deemed an anti-romantic comedy. “Shortcomings,” based on a graphic novel, marks the directorial debut of actor Randall Park who strikes a chord for representation with his mostly Asian-American cast. Sherry Cola steals every scene she’s in as Ben’s lesbian best friend. It has its shortcomings, but “Shortcomings” might be just offbeat enough to resonate with jaded Gen Z viewers.

Casey Affleck stars in “Dreamin’ Wild,” the bizarre true story of singer/songwriter Donnie Emerson who made a flop album with his brother in the 1970s and then went into obscurity. Forty years later, they were rediscovered and became a cult hit. Affleck’s melancholy demeanor works well for this wistfully low-key story.

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