Cowabunga dudes! The newest iteration of the evergreen (no pun intended) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is here! TMNT Mutant Mayhem is the cinematic reboot audiences and fans have been waiting for. Directed by Jeff Rowe and produced by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver, Mutant Mayhem aims high and delivers on every level. This is hands-down the best the Turtles have ever been on screen. This movie just oozes charm and charisma (again, no pun intended).
Previous attempts to bring the Turtles to the big screen have been uneven at best. The original live-action movies from the early 1990’s produced diminishing returns with each sequel until 2007’s mostly forgotten CGI TMNT. Then Michael Bay rebooted the franchise for the movies and did a couple of semi-enjoyable films in 2014 and 2016 which put off a lot of fans with some abrupt choices and off-model character designs. Yet across all six installments, it felt like film-makers were struggling to adapt the essence and heart of the characters for movie-goers. Not so with Mutant Mayhem. While there are definitely a few pivots from the source material and previous established interpretations, every character stands out as a distinct and welcome addition to the TMNT-verse. The turtles, more than ever, act like real teenagers. April O’ Neil seems so eager and down-to-earth that I swear I went to high school with her. The parallel character arc between the sage and paternal Splinter and the villainous Superfly is dually authentic and empathetic.
A large part of the movie’s success is due to the tremendous talent that brings the characters to life. Having the heroes in a half-shell voiced by actual teenagers makes a world of difference in making their unique personalities shine through. They make it seem like the turtles would be a genuinely fun bunch to chill with IRL. And the supporting cast is appropriately star-studded with the likes of Ice Cube, Jackie Chan, John Cena, Ayo Edibiri, Post Malone, Paul Rudd, and more.
The soundtrack kicks too. Peppered with hip hop classics and Easter egg callbacks, it carries the kinetic and bouncy energy of fight sequences and training montages at the nostalgic intersection of martial arts and inner city hustles. Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross serve up a score that complements the proceedings perfectly and suits the movie’s tone. During the film’s loud and quiet moments, their mastery of evocative synth-driven music is on display.
TMNT Mutant Mayhem is perfect for people who love fun movies. It’s the kind of movie that people clap and cheer for as the credits roll. It’s the perfect summer movie for all ages. There’s something truly magical and transcendent about multiple generations of fans coming together for event cinema. It’s akin to Barbie or Super Mario Bros. as cultural touchstones. Don’t wait for this one to hit streaming and be sure to stick around for the mid-credits scene! Turtle power!
