All movies hope to turn a buck, though few of them actually attain this goal (at least, not in any substantial measure). Then there are movies whose only goal is to turn a buck. These movies belong more rightfully to the world of enterprise rather than the world of film, and we should therefore judge them by the appropriate standards. The original 3 Ninjas movie achieved the highest cost/return ratio of any movie released in 1992. A sequel was, thus, a foregone conclusion. And since the original already borrowed elements from every successful kiddy picture known to humanity, this sequel’s retreads are carved mighty thin. Mostly a mix of the Home Alone and Ninja Turtle epics, 3 Ninjas Kick Back is an unabashed knockoff. Adding insult to injury, the movie’s closing line is, “See you next time,” indicating that we’re not nearly done with these particular ninjas. The movie brings no new material to the screen and banks on the fact that its underage audience has an unschooled memory. Don’t insult your kids with this choppy, unimaginative film product. Teach them to be smart consumers and Kick Back.
This article appears in May 20 • 1994 (Cover).
