Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Tonight, on Paramount+, I checked out the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” which came out theatrically in August and on Paramount+ in the middle of September, and I will all the dudes know how this movie is.

Since their creation over 40 years ago, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have seen their brand of hilarious, family-targeted action all over six feature films (in three separate timelines) and countless television, comic books, and video games. Despite everything, and each respective creative honoring their spin, the younger, more appropriately teenaged years of the four have rarely been given the main focus.

Peter Gray said in his review, “For Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, director/co-writer Jeff Rowe (The Mitchells vs. The Machines) and producers and co-writers Seth Rogen (Superbad) and Evan Goldberg (This Is The End) have embraced this adolescent mentality, with both the film’s humour, coming-of-age narrative, and exciting, unorthodox animation all expressing this very temperament; the almost scrapbook-like look of the animated renderings bringing to mind the aesthetic of the recent Spider-Verse films.”

When the film starts, we’re thrown into the action almost immediately, and mainly it looks like “Mutant Mayhem” will hit the ground running, barely giving us enough time to catch up. Thankfully, once Leonardo (Nicholas Cantu), the leader, Donatello (Micah Abbey), the tech expert, Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), the comic relief, and Raphael (Brady Noon), the hothead of the group, return home from their latest escapade – which includes forgetting their grocery chore to catch a late-night viewing at an outdoor movie theater (the live-action inclusion of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” making for a nice visual touch) – the film takes a moment to slow down, introducing us to their father figure, Splinter (Jackie Chan) and let us in on their mutated history as animals that were all enhanced by the same chemical ooze.

Splinter doesn’t want the turtles roaming around the city due to his rancor of the human race – we’re told in a flashback regarding how he was treated when he first found the Turtles – so when they befriend high school reporter April O’Neill, voiced by Ayo Edebiri, they know they have to keep this a secret. April's not entirely scared when looking at them is one thing – her being an outcast at school means she’s sympathetic to their feelings – but the rest of the population making nice is another, but the Turtles believe that if they can publicly stop the actions of the criminal mastermind currently wreaking havoc in the city, then the adoration they want will come as their reward.

The criminal mastermind is Superfly, voiced by Ice Cube, a mutant fly who, as Gray describes, “proves to not quite be as shoo-able as the Turtles envisioned.” Not only is Superfly a threatening presence, but his motley crew of fellow mutated animal allies – which includes Bebop (Seth Rogen), Rocksteady (John Cena), Leatherhead (Rose Byrne), Mondo Gecko (Paul Rudd), and Genghis Frog (Hannibal Buress) – are equally as dangerous as they are tempting for Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael to consider joining a group that they can relate to.

The idea of the Turtles trying to find their place in society is a relatable story for the teen audience “Mutant Mayhem” is mainly targeting, but it will easily sit with any age group as it speaks to one’s confidence and learning who your group is. Gray noted, “It’s also to the film’s benefit that the Turtles themselves are voiced by teenaged talent, allowing each character to individually shine through believable banter; to call their chemistry organic would be putting it lightly.”

Gray continued, “Furthering its colouring-outside-the-lines personality with a 90s-leaning soundtrack (a fight sequence to the tune of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” is a highlight), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an exciting take on the familiar.” Though occasionally dark and improving a sense of humor that the older crowd will appreciate, Rogen and crew have still intelligently made an action film that speaks to so many ages, without sacrificing any of its truth in the process: it’s so good that we don’t even mind it submits to the now-usual mid-credit sequel tease because, if this is anything to go by, further sequels under these creatives will be welcomed with a loud “Shell yeah!”

All I can say dudes that it has been a while since I have gotten into a TMNT movie. This one should be seen by everyone if they have a Paramount+. I think everyone will like it, and critics have been calling this the best TMNT film. I might agree with them since I enjoyed the action, the serious moments, and the comedy made me laugh every time. See this film to know what I mean. Maya Rudolph is in here voicing another villain.

Thank you for joining in on this really righteous review. Stay tuned this Friday to see what I will review for this year’s “Halloween Month.”