Lone Massachusetts Teen Ninja Defies the Odds and Competes For $1 Million

Lone Massachusetts Teen Ninja Defies the Odds and Competes For $1 Million

The high school senior is the lone Massachusetts teen ninja standing on NBC's "American Ninja Warrior" this season, beating out 16 other New Englanders who started on the hit televised competition earlier this summer.

On Monday, the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School senior competes for the $1 million prize on the show’s season finale Sept. 11.

NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” is an exhilarating television competition show where contestants from all walks of life, including athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and ordinary people with extraordinary determination, take on an immensely challenging and visually stunning obstacle course.

This ultimate test of strength, agility, balance, and mental fortitude features a series of increasingly difficult stages, culminating in a heart-pounding ultimate obstacle.

Contestants strive to conquer these physically demanding courses in the hope of achieving the prestigious title of "American Ninja Warrior" and winning a significant cash prize. The show combines gripping human interest stories with jaw-dropping athletic feats, creating a thrilling and inspiring spectacle for viewers.

Anyway....

Check this kid out!

His girlfriend, Addy Herman of Pembroke was on the show before this season in addition to this season (WOW!)  She failed to make the finale this time. But Herman was cheering Meunier on last Monday’s episode. That's love!

According to a story in the Boston Globe, Meunier has been a fan of the show since he was 9, but got serious about being a Ninja Warrior at 11.

And, according to the Globe, Meunier's father is his lifelong “inspiration."

“He has battled transverse myelitis, an infection of the spine, which he was diagnosed with at age 16. He’s been able to have a steady job and provide for our family. That’s inspired me my whole life," told the Globe.

The much-anticipated new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mahem has arrived! Early reviews have been nothing but glowing. What's the story? In a nutshell, the movie follows the Turtle brothers as they work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants. As of this writing, it has a whopping 95% Fresh score from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 94% audience score.

In a recent interview with Polygon, Producer and Writer Seth Rogan was asked about the comics longevity. "Someone smart once said all the best ideas start as jokes. And I think that this firmly falls into that category. It started as a way for two comic book writers to make each other laugh, literally. They were they were doodling in their sketchbooks, trying to crack each other up, and that’s where the first images of this came from. But, like great writers, they imbued it with something that is undeniably relatable and resonant, which is the teenage part. That word is what makes it go from being a silly thing that is disposable, to something that weirdly has resonated with people for 40 years."

In case you haven't seen it, here's the trailer.

Our GetUp Crew Sports Guy Leroy, got an early look at the movie, and here's what he had to say.

"I sat down skeptical because honestly there’s a lot of garbage in the theaters right now, but I’m here to say that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem did not disappoint! I am an 80’s and 90’s cartoon kind of guy because it’s what I grew up on. There have been other TMNT movies. Some hits, others trash, but this one did a great job at being nostalgic, different, yet current. The visuals are stunning. The voice acting his outstanding, and overall, there’s a future with this interpretation of the turtles! I give it an 8/10. Check it out for sure!" 

There have been several Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movies, and it's popularity had done nothing but grow over the years. The franchise includes video games, comics, action figures, and many TV series. We love a good ranking over here, so when Rotten Tomatoes put together their list of the best and worst Ninja Turtle movies. So check out Mutant Mahem and let us know if you agreen with this ranking.

Critics Consensus

"It's a case of one sequel too many for the heroes in a half shell, with a tired time-travel plot gimmick failing to save the franchise from rapidly diminishing returns."

Critics Consensus

"Neither entertaining enough to recommend nor remarkably awful, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may bear the distinction of being the dullest movie ever made about talking bipedal reptiles."

Critics Consensus

"Not only is the movie's juvenile dialogue unbearable for adults, but the turtles' dopey and casual attitude towards physical violence makes them poor kids' role models."

Critics Consensus

"TMNT's art direction is splendid, but the plot is non-existent and the dialogue lacks the irony and goofy wit of the earlier Ninja Turtles movies."

Critics Consensus

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a slight improvement over its predecessor, but still lacks the wit or anarchic energy of the comics that birthed the franchise."

Critics Consensus

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is exactly as advertised: one-liners, brawls, and general silliness. Good for the young at heart, irritating for everyone else."

"While unlikely to bring any nostalgia-minded fans of the series’ early-’90s heyday back into the fold, “Rise” is a serviceable — if also forgettable — entry in the cowabunga canon." Variety critic Michael Nordine

"Between the action, humor and the willingness to truly embrace the spirit of this unique crossover, it's a lot of fun in spite of the oddly timed and questionable gore." Jeffrey LylesLyles' Movie Files

Critics Consensus

"With its unique visual style and a story that captures the essence of the franchise's appeal, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated treat for the whole family."