The pizza-eating, ninja-fighting, socially awkward teenage turtles are back on the big screen in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, a fresh, new adventure that reboots the popular animated franchise.
The film begins by showing how the attempted arrest and collection of a mad scientist and his experimental mutant pet leads to green experimental ooze seeping down into the sewers of New York. The ooze infects four young turtles and a rat named Splinter (voiced by Jackie Chan), transforming them into nearly human-size mutants who can talk and have intelligence.
Splinter adopts the young turtles and names them Michelangelo (voiced by Shamon Brown Jr.), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Leonardo (voiced by Nicolas Cantu), and Raphael (voiced by Brady Noon). The overprotective adoptive father fears humans and the outside world and keeps his turtles safe in his sewer home. As they grow, he trains them to be able to fight like ninjas to protect themselves by watching old karate tapes and YouTube videos.
It’s not long before the four young turtles are teenagers and yearn for a little adventure and freedom, but mostly to be accepted by humans. The rambunctious foursome always stays out much longer than necessary when going on food and supplies runs, people-watching from afar, or taking in classic 1980s movies at a drive-in just out of sight of humans.
It’s on one of these extended food runs that they meet aspiring teenage journalist April O’Neil (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), who’s investigating the deadly criminal Superfly. Mikey, Donnie, Leo, and Raph quickly get the idea to help April with her investigation and bring down Superfly, hoping it will prove to humans that they’re friendly and cool.
However, shortly into the investigation, the TMNT realize that going up against Superfly and his crime syndicate is not something they’re ready for at all.
Visually dazzling and energetic, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an innovative, funny, and entertaining reboot of the crime-fighting reptiles series. The film has a terrific cast of actors bringing the characters to life and some solid messages for kids about the importance of family, friends, and the need for acceptance.
Visually, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem looks fantastic, mixing 2D and 3D animation similar to the style used in the Spider-Verse films. It gives the movie a grungy, comic-book feel.
All the voice talents do a great job, but the two standouts are Jackie Chan as Splinter and Ice Cube as Superfly. Chan’s take on the character is more of a loving and out-of-touch father who only wants to keep his children safe from the world of humans. Chan’s scenes are not only filled with plenty of humor but also some touching emotion. Ice Cube is both intimidating and surprisingly likable as Superfly, the big bad who hates all humans and wants the turtles to join his crew. Ice Cube makes the character both cool and deadly at the same time.
With a talented voice cast, stunning animation, and plenty of action and laughs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is one of the most enjoyable animated films this year and is sure to entertain fans both old and new.
GRADE: B
Directed By: Jeff Rowe
MPAA Rating: PG for language, impolite material, and sequences of violence and action
Release Date: August 2, 2023
Running Time: 1 hour 39 minutes
Studios: Paramount Pictures
