The iconic heroes in a half shell have arrived in movie theaters for some crime-fighting and delicious pizza in New York City. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated superhero movie that features Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael in a new take on these four turtle brothers who have had a long history in movies, TV, and comics alike. This movie sees them teaming up with April O’Neil to uncover a mysterious crime syndicate led by the Superfly. This is a stylishly animated, delightful action-adventure comedy movie that serves the characters well.
When you have four characters who are so famous and have been in six theatrically released movies before, finding a fresh perspective can be a challenge. Nobody could be trusted with this task except Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the duo behind classics like Superbad and Pineapple Express. This is the third movie they’ve produced together this year after the hilarious R-rated comedy Joy Ride and the lesser-known horror movie Cobweb. These two have always been a dynamic duo, and they help produce and write this new TMNT movie that serves as a fun, family-friendly movie with a few fun action set pieces and some well-written humor.
Although “teenage” is the first word of any TMNT movie, the turtles have always been portrayed by adults in their films. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem makes the wise choice to pivot away from that, casting Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon as the leads. One of the strongest directorial choices from Jeff Rowe is the decision to have these actors record their lines together, which is rare for voiceover work. It’s clear from watching the movie how much chemistry these four boys have together. Their dialogue sounds improvised and authentic, as the actors were able to infuse their personalities into the characters and accurately capture the way teens talk in 2023. The way they play off each other’s energy is perfect for the camaraderie that is quickly set up in the film.
The four lead voice performances are stellar, but they have an excellent supporting cast with them as well. Martial arts icon Jackie Chan voices Splinter, the wise, overprotective father of the turtles. Splinter is given a good reason to dislike humans in this movie and he is the character with the strongest arc. There are moments in this movie that pay homage to Chan’s real-life filmography, and even though it’s been a while since audiences have gotten to see him kick ass in live action, he does it well in animated form. Another strong performance is Ice Cube as the villainous Superfly. He brings a lot of his own charismatic voice to the role as well, and it creates some mature, hilarious results.
At this movie’s core is a story about these turtles who want to fit in and be loved but are worried about how the world perceives them. The film features April O’Neil portrayed a bit differently this time as an African American teenager. With Ayo Edebiri’s performance, it is easy to root for her because she and the turtles are both looked down upon and want to be liked. April gets very involved in the action, and she is a great character. The supporting cast, which includes stars like Paul Rudd, Post Malone, and John Cena, also get excellent moments to shine.
The issue with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the screenplay, which feels formulaic in a story that lacks inventiveness. It’s another story about a bad guy who wants to end the world and the heroes who must stop him. This is not the electrifying crowd-pleasing hit that it could have been, and it is a small step down from Rowe’s previous riot of a comedy The Mitchells vs. The Machines. This movie has a few solid jokes, especially some hilarious live-action bits incorporated into the mix, but it also has a few hit-or-miss movie references. The narrative in this movie is quite predictable, but it makes up for it with laugh-out-loud moments and a mid-credits scene audiences will definitely want to stay for. Overall, it’s an exceedingly decent animated movie that serves as another fun, entertaining experience that may or may not have you yelling, “Cowabunga!”
SCORE: 7/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 7 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended a press screening for our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem review.
