‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’- Film Review: The Best TMNT Movie Yet

Was the world ready for a good movie based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Some of us probably were. Believe it or not, I didn’t grow up with the beloved characters who know martial arts and love their fair share of delicious pizza. Those who firmly commit to Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman’s parody creation have shown affection for nearly 40 years, from the original comic books, video games, and the various television incarnations. All eyes were on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem to be the best considering what came before on the silver screen. The popularity outside the cartoon started with the original live-action trilogy that only saw the first as a classic in the superhero genre. Then we had 2007’s CGI-animated TMNT, which I saw in theaters and disliked it. And it came crashing down with mediocrity from the Michael Bay-produced reboots: 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its 2016 sequel Out of the Shadows.

On the bright side, Paramount and Nickelodeon Movies gave these lovable turtles another go with the help of writer and producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to give this franchise that much-needed boost of energy. Everything given to us by the marketing seemed to promise a good time, and truthfully, Mutant Mayhem was a pleasant surprise for someone who isn’t a die-hard fan of the property. You could say I was “shell-shocked.”

What’s the Story: Hidden underneath the sewers of New York City where four baby turtles come into contact with this mysterious “ooze,” the brothers – Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Michaelangelo (voiced by Shamon Brown Jr.), Donatello (Micah Abbey), and Raphael (Brady Noon) – were raised by their surrogate father Splinter (Jackie Chan) and taught them the ways of ninjutsu to protect themselves from the dangers of the outside world. The brothers are having fun while they can but can’t help but dream of living in a society where they don’t have to hide and fit in like normal teenagers. When they meet high school reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), they work together not only to make the turtles be lauded as heroes of the city but the chance to take down a criminal named Superfly (Ice Cube), who is on a path to changing the world for his own good.

Unlike the previous Films, the thing making Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem a huge success is that this is the closest to bringing back the spirit of the cartoon series from its fun and vibrant style that keeps this fast-paced as possible. Not as darker as you would think, but you have to know what to expect from a story about anthropomorphic animals fighting crime. Why take that seriously? Directed by Jeff Rowe (co-director of the amazing Mitchells vs. the Machines) with co-directing credit from Kyler Spears, their dedication breathing throughout what fans wanted to get out of this won’t be disappointed. Some of the lore remains the same, but not everyone will be pleased with how the origin is handled. Those modifications were fine with me because it could’ve been worse than how it was present in the 2014 reboot. Here, it was better than expected. This is a step in the right direction for younger kids discovering TMNT since it will help them get into the action while incorporating a coming-of-age theme.

One of the main draws that had me interested was deciding to hire actual teenagers to voice the titular characters, and what a refresher. We’ve been used to having adults in suits through Jim Henson’s Creature Shop or motion capture. Not here. You got an impressive core four in Nicolas Canter, Brady Noon, Shamon Brown Jr., and Micah Abbey, expressing the great authenticity they’re supposed to their respective turtles, making the intended teenage element of the story not go to waste. Learning that the four recorded their lines together improved their chemistry more. It makes the improvised dialogue perfect for what teenagers would say and establishes a connection with these brothers that hasn’t been felt in nearly a decade on-screen.

This also has a stacked cast providing voices of well-known or deep-cut characters I needed to familiarize myself with. Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) is the best April O’Neil I have seen. There will be those who won’t like how she’s not an adult but an aspiring journalist with social anxiety. But I’ve always appreciated that she nails down the side of this character, especially when she and the Turtles team up. And the idiots who complained about April being black will still see it. Jackie Chan is a great choice to voice Splinter, who knows his way around kicking ass but is an overprotective father/ master who doesn’t want to see his sons hurt. Honestly, from my perspective, this is the best and most likable iteration of both characters. And Ice Cube as the film’s villain, Superfly, was better than I expected since it’d be easy to assume he won’t have much range based on his distinct voice, yet you can tell he’s leaning into how ridiculous this mutant can be.

There’s also Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, Rose Byrne as the alligator Leatherhead, Seth Rogen and John Cena as Bebop and Rocksteady, and Post Malone as Ray Fillet. Some didn’t have much to do, but if they’re glad to be in a Ninja Turtles movie, then good on them.

While watching, the animation will capture viewers’ attention with a visual style that is impossible to define in words. Everything shown is stunning and comic book-esque, resembling a cross between 2D, 3D, and the stop-motion art we’ve grown to love at Laika Studios. Either that or it made it look like seeing hand-drawn sketch drawings/ concept art coming to life.

The influences of Spider-Man: Into and Across the Spider-Verse and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish are apparent, but stepping on this creative road allowed it to stand on its own two feet, mainly through the action sequences that made me envious of how I can’t accomplish anything as unique. It has this grit to the character designs that bugged me at first with some humans. However, that could be intentional, as well as the look of New York in their world that goes way back to the style of the comics.

Despite the action and comedy, which will make people with a sense of humor laugh more than once, it doesn’t neglect the heart to support. When mutated turtles walk among people, they won’t know how to react. Therefore, the message that has typically been a fixture in the franchise is the value of acceptance. Once they meet with Superfly and his fellow brothers and sisters, it’s the first time they’ve felt welcomed by the outcast, only to maybe not be on board with the plan to have them rule the world. Because of their various personalities and inability to agree on anything, the value of the brotherhood connection endures because they are a group of brothers who still care about one another and will protect and fight with one another in any danger.

There’s one incredible sequence of the Turtles doing some interrogation from different locations that had me in awe of how it was created, all set to Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.” Speaking of music, there are some fantastic ’90s hip-hop tunes to fit the vibe with the two best needles drops in the last couple of months that I can’t get over, in addition to the outstanding score by Oscar-winning composer duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (their second time working on an animated film after Soul).

Not many drawbacks prevented this from becoming the finest in every way. Yes, the script is thin and predictable. But it’s better than the bad writing of the last two. Additionally, it could have made more use of the other mutants, such as Bebop and Rocksteady or Giancarlo “Yo Mama” Esposito as Baxter Stockman. Not everyone will enjoy all the humor, mainly when there are a lot of pop culture references (Attack on Titan, Saving Private Ryan, etc.). There’s an ongoing joke about milking that was amusing at first but quickly grew old.

I have yet to see a lot of animated movies so far this year, and while it comes nowhere to be spectacular as Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, we’re lucky to have a Turtles movie that doesn’t waste our time. With the franchise’s future in great shape with early talks of a sequel and a new prequel series in the works on Paramount+, it’s a wonderful time to care again for these characters that won’t let us down like last time. There will be those who’ll nitpick down to the core, but my non-jaded side thought it was entertaining. I still can’t believe I enjoyed this more than a few tent pole summer movies that were merely “okay.” So I didn’t see that coming.

Overall, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was the most fun I had with the TMNT property in years. While it’s a franchise I didn’t grow up with, it’s nothing but satisfying when done well. If for nothing else, it serves as an excellent introduction for kids and possibly a revamped interest for adults who want to explore these characters through its one-of-a-kind visual style and a sense of energy that doesn’t slow down.