MOVIE REVIEW – The latest installment of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” seamlessly blends the technological challenges of the modern era with the everyday woes of teenagers. Designed for today’s youth, our mutant turtles not only have to grapple with familiar foes, but they also find themselves battling for popularity on TikTok. Their biggest challenge in this new setting? Maintaining their youth and individual identities as they mature. While “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” offers a modern take, it deeply respects its original series origins.

Looking back, it’s almost incredible that with roughly half a dozen reboots and reinterpretations, not a single movie, cartoon, or game pondered the deceptively simple question about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise before 2023: “What if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were actually… teenagers?” We’re not talking about the inherently cool, target-audience designed teenagers, but rather the awkward 21st-century teen boys who record silly stunts with their siblings for TikTok fame and bombard us with anime facts over a trivial matter.

Nine Inch Nails’ melodies in chiptune style

This is where we are. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” feels as though it took direct inspiration from a middle schooler’s sketchbook. Its vibe resembles that of a Twitch stream, thanks in large part to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s deliberate chiptune-styled soundtrack. It’s then unsurprising that the turtles, in their titular roles, are voiced by relatively lesser-known young actors, as though they recorded their lines during a Fortnite game break. Such a concept could easily have been a recipe for disaster – leading to a chaotic and irksome children’s movie. Fortunately, reliable creators back “Mutant Mayhem”. The screenplay is crafted by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg – proven entertainers – and directed by Jeff Rowe, who demonstrated in “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” how to balance technological challenges, family drama, and dynamic humor.

Mutant teen turtles in New York…

Early in the movie, it immediately dials into the “teen mutant” theme when the four turtles and their rat father figure, Splinter (portrayed by Jackie Chan), come to life. This is all thanks to a mishap by scientist Baxter Stockman (voiced by Giancarlo Esposito) who loses a DNA-altering capsule in the sewer. Once they’re created, Splinter begins training them, but not with the usual tenets of honor and discipline. This shift in mindset stems from a traumatic event on their first trip to the surface where they faced an aggressive mob. For Splinter, New York is more than just a city; it’s a challenging environment where survival means teaching his boys self-defense. Although they’re internet-raised and have had their taste of city nightlife – through underground basketball games and evenings on city rooftops – their safety isn’t guaranteed.

This semblance of security shakes when they encounter an eccentric teen girl, April O’Neil (portrayed by Ayo Edebiri), and a mutated robot fly, Superfly (voiced by Ice Cube). Each character offers the turtles different paths to navigate the world. Through April, the turtles could become heroes in the eyes of the city, while Superfly, recruiting an entire mutant army, seeks to impose his vision of the world.

Cartoon-styled action

Midway, “Mutant Mayhem” occasionally loses focus on the turtles’ relationship with their own kind. However, the plot re-navigates viewers back to this thread. Still, the film poignantly captures the turtles’ heart-wrenching desire to just be normal kids while external threats – be it physical danger, overprotection, or otherwise – loom over them. Central to the movie is the theme that young people sometimes genuinely need to feel “dangerous” as it aids in making right decisions as adults.

“Mutant Mayhem” charms with kid-centric humor while not forgetting that our heroes are still in search of their identities. The film remains true to the franchise while being innovative and fresh. Visually, it evokes the original comics, but its vibrant color palette and youthful exuberance prevent it from becoming too dark or morose. The action scenes lean more towards cartoonish than the martial arts approach seen in previous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. Yet, they couldn’t resist allowing Jackie Chan’s Splinter to showcase some “Drunken Master” moves at some point. Regardless, the combat scenes remain fresh and energetic. This is particularly evident in the final big confrontation involving a Cronenberg-esque massive monster. The scene would be terrifying if not for Ice Cube’s comedic relief.

“Mutant Mayhem” knows its audience and speaks to them directly without pandering. Reflecting on the earlier film adaptation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows”, it feels as though it’s repeating the mistakes of its predecessor, trying to serve the audience what they think they want. In contrast, “Mutant Mayhem”, akin to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, works not just as a nod of acknowledgment but also raises the relevance of popular series for today’s youth.

– BadSector –