There is a scene midway through Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows that is equal parts ludicrous and inexplicably amusing. What else could describe a talking, half-finished computer generated brain, tethered from the torso of a robotic strongman in an image that resembles a sentient, chewed piece of bubblegum escaping the body via C-section? This character, in the loosest sense of the term, is the villainous Kraang, and his introduction is borderline Ed Woodian in its incomprehensible madness.

Of course, fans of the long-time silliness that is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would recognize this multi-tentacle, Lovecraftian nightmare as a literal Saturday morning cartoon villain with schemes for world domination brought to (relative) digital life. But remembering your ’80s nostalgia goggles and actually bearing witness to 2016 special effects are two different things entirely, and this thoroughly bizarre creation is so peculiarly out there that it could either be the harbinger of blockbuster demons to come or a delicious embrace of gonzo wackiness that these multiplex fillers so desperately need.

Alas then that moments of such weirdness are the exception rather than the rule. For despite being about six-foot tall mutated reptiles, the tone and pace of this live-action cartoon is decidedly normal, right down to its save the world and/or city destruction porn, as well as producer Michael Bay and Platinum Dunes’ patented sense of humor involving plenty of fart and dick jokes to go around. Occasionally, the movie tips the scale to the original cartoon’s most acid trip-inspired visions and tonal shifts—particularly whenever Noel Fisher’s infectiously gnarly performance as Michelangelo is taking up screen time. But when crossing off so many boxes on a blockbuster checklist, it’s hard to surf on even the movie’s most shallow of good vibes.

The plot, to use the term liberally, centers around the Turtles wanting to take credit for saving the world during the 2014 film. However, they are ninjas of the night and Master Splinter (Tony Shalhoub) does not wish for them to be revealed to an untrustworthy city. But the matter might be taken out of their hands, because their Girl Friday April O’Neil (Megan Fox) has learned that the villainous Shredder (Brian Tee) is being transported to county, and Baxter Stockman (a questionable Tyler Perry) is planning to break him free while en route.