WWE Star Sheamus "Steals The Show" In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2
Major praise for "perfectly cast" WWE star in sequel.
The very first reviews of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of Shadows have now hit the net, and while the general consensus seems to be fairly mixed (it's either a vast improvement on the original or a step along similar terrible lines, depending on who you listen to), one element seems to have delighted critics.
The decision to cast WWE's Sheamus alongside Gary Anthony Williams for the sequel was always something of a gamble. For one, he doesn't look anything like a rhino. But it looks to have paid off, as Den Of Geek called the pair the best thing about the film:
"The obvious highlight, the stand out by a mile, better than everything else on screen, of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows is the bungling duo of Bebop and Rocksteady. They dont so much light up the screen as come crashing through it, high fiving each other and destroying the front few rows of seats in the cinema. The pair steal every scene theyre in thanks to an alignment of excellent writing, top notch CGI and pitch perfect casting. The chemistry between actors Gary Anthony Williams, who plays Bebop, and Stephen Sheamus Farrelly, who plays Rocksteady, contributes massively to a wonderfully funny screen team."
Digital Spy praised the pair on the same sort of lines (despite hating the film):
"The villain this time out is a diabolical scientist (Tyler Perry), hired by the Turtles' old vanquished nemesis Shredder (Brian Tee) to create his own mutants strong enough to fight back. Those mutants are fan favorites Bebop and Rocksteady (Gary Anthony Williams and Stephen Farrelly, having palpably more fun than anyone else on screen), and while their transformation should please die-hard Turtles aficionados more than anyone, their scenes are highlights."
Perhaps the film-makers knew they'd managed to capture lughtning in a bottle with the characters, given that they were given their own trailer too:
Could this be the launching block for Sheamus to kickstart his film career? He's already made a few appearances, but if he's going to turn heads as Rocksteady, you'd have to think someone in Hollywood will start paying attention. I mean, The Rock's career launched off the back of a terrible CGI performance in The Scorpion King, and he's one of the biggest actors on the planet now.
So the Irishman might well just make it.