Film Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem




                        - Head over to Elements of Madness where this review was originally posted!


The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back with a new animated adventure. After a rocky track record in live-action adaptations, the writing team of Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Jeff Rowe attempts to deliver a new take.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem follows the turtle brothers,  Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Raphael (Brady Noon), and Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) all wanting the love and acceptance of New York. To the dismay of their mutant-rat father Splinter (Jackie Chan), the heroes stumble upon a mutant army led by the villainous Superfly (Ice Cube).  This forces the turtles to try and uncover what it really means to be loved in the world.

Mutant Mayhem succeeds at being a visually stunning and thoroughly entertaining time at the movies. The screenplay by Rogen, Goldberg, and Rowe creates a childish world. Its humor is consistently juvenile in places but works with these characters being teens. Each turtle is dealing with identifiable problems that teens can relate to. These problems can include first crushes, finding hobbies, and even living up to people's expectations. Some will feel slighted by the turtle's "problems" being this simple. That can be understandable, and might even detract from the level of enjoyment some older audiences may have. Thankfully those moments are few and far between due to the visual delights.

    It is the film's often hilarious and well-staged action sequences that elevate the material. Those looking for straight-up ninja action will be thrilled with what transpires on-screen.  Each turtle carves out a distinct fighting style thanks to their weapon of choice. Fans who grew up with their favorite turtle will enjoy seeing them get a moment to shine. It is particularly enjoyable to watch the boys interact with the first human they across, April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri). In these moments, you can see the turtles finally receiving the acceptance they are looking for.

There’s a real joy in how identifiable it is to see these outsiders (turtles) being happy. The references to pop culture run the risk of feeling heavy-handed.  The film thankfully does not bombard viewers with references. Instead, they are used to show how the turtles are really like teens. These sorts of insights help when they meet Superfly and his family (Rose Byrne, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Post Malone, and Hannibal Buress).  All of the weird character designs endear these outsiders to audiences.  It is those visuals that could split viewers on the finished product.

Moments of Mutant Mayhem rival the visual poetry of the Spider-Verse films. In those moments, you can see the originality and creativity on display in thrilling ways.  Other moments become cluttered to the point of being a visual mess.  It is in those messy moments that the visuals almost become headache-inducing. They become prevalent in the third act, which can be enough to deter a certain audience. Children on the other hand may enjoy the visual messiness and excitement. Its messiness can detract from the story but also serve as scenes of pure fun.

When all of Mutant Mayhem’s characters come together, the results are quite exciting. These scenes of teamwork deliver on two levels for audiences. Comic fans and adults in general will enjoy the freneticism of the action. Kids on the other hand will be able to understand themes of teamwork and friendship.  That could be cheesy in some cases, but it works in the context of the Turtles becoming real heroes. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a fun time at the movies. Its messaging and themes are simple but deliver in a visually stunning package.  The visuals can be messy in places, but you can feel the passion for the material on display. That passion makes the finished product one of the summer’s biggest surprises. Mutant Mayhem is more than just popcorn entertainment. Its messages and ideas are simple but can help to move audiences of any age. 

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