No assembly RequireD

Everyone knows the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are popular. Since their 1984 creation from comic book creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, this group of mischief reptiles have taken over comic books, animated shows, movies, lunchboxes, toys and so much more. They have gone beyond the homes of their underground sewers and have become one of the most recognizable pop culture icons. However one thing has always been missing for these teenagers, they have never been performed by actual teens. Yes crazy to think but amongst their cartoons and live action portrayals they have always had a distinct mark of adult trying to recreate their youth. Far from a bad thing, their many iterations have brought joy to so many. Their 1987 cartoon series is still held by many as the pivotal show of their youth, while their first 1990 live action film was the highest grossing independent movie of its time. However that teenage performance that can only come from teens of respected era was lacking. Thankfully TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM has fixed what should have been an easy solution. The film cast actual teens in the titular role. MUTANT MAYHEM directed by Jeff Rowe (co-directed by Kyler Spears) and brought to us by Seth Rogen through his Point Grey studios, is a vibrant addition to the franchise that more importantly brings fresh vibes to an already established IP in a time where many settle. Its animation doesn’t ride the curtails of say the ”Spider-Verse” films or even Rowe’s own “The Mitchells vs The Machines,” but instead brings a unique feel that captures every frame. MUTANT MAYHEM is not just the best TMNT movie yet it is the first one who truly lives up to its word of its lengthy title.

Re-creating an origin story seems like another task one can just take the easy road on, stick to the script and try not to piss off the fans. MUTANT MAYHEM has other ideas, one of the most exciting elements is to see the film take some alternate routes while still landing at the respected destination. We learn early on that are lovable four turtles were part of a larger experiment meant to mutant animals so outcast scientist Baxter Stockman (Giancarlo Esposito) could have a family as the human world is far too cruel to him. His mission was never just turtles, but also a fly, gecko, pig, rhino and many more. But like most comic book films there is always evil at play, and it isn’t long until a mysterious evil corporation destroys the lab leaving our turtles to the sewer covered in mystery glowing ooze and a rat for a father. Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu, Raphael (Brady Noon), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), and Donatello (Micah Abbey) are now fifteen years old being raised by their extremely nervous father Splinter (Jackie Chan) wo forbids them for interacting with humans. Instead they spend their days with trips to the bodega sneaking around and trying to enjoy each other’s company while seeing the joys of the human world from afar. Right from the start the chemistry between the four leads is off the charts. The film taking place in 2023 allows for its own gen z teen performers to riff off one another referencing everything from Tiktok to Attack on Titan to having or clearly not having any “rizz” all while playfully mocking one another. The film while written by a slew of men much older than its leads never gives off a sense of “hello fellow kids.” Instead its leads bring such an authentic and charming light to their generation that you almost feel cheated that your favorite previous installments never did this. It also helps that (believe it or not) this is the first American animated film since 2007’s “Surf’s Up” where the lead cast recorded together in the same room throughout the making of the film. But amongst all the playful banter is a sadness of not being able to be a part of the human world. They are torn between their desire to join in and their fears that the world will never accept them. Built deeper by Splinter’s anger for humans and his (humorous) fear that all humans want to “milk” them for their blood. It is this fear that like most parents forces a stance between him and his children as the years go on. The film greatly pulls at your heartstrings early on with images of the turtles as children and the digression of time they want to spend with their father. Any parent is sure to shed a tear while watching with their own soon to be teenagers.

With its fear of the human world MUTANT MAYHEM does a great job at bringing in a complication of ideas in the form of its human representative April O’ Neil. A now teenage high school student working for the school paper and youthfully voiced by Ayo Edebiri. Once April and the turtles meet the film ventures into its more superhero aspect with a plot involving a mysterious criminal named Superfly (Ice Cube) and his band of merry mutants. The film with its brilliant team of animators kicks their heroes into high gear with the most stylistic animation seen in a “Turtles” film or any kids’ animation film. The designs feel ripped out of the page of a teenagers sketch book allowing for it to feel like a coordinated mess. The bad humans always look overdrawn and the mutants they eventually encounter always feel delicate. It is a great balance that plays off the already established themes. April however is the ongoing belief that humans can find a way to accept the turtles. But to balance it out the filmmakers have delivered an onslaught of some fan favorite “Turtle” adversaries. These bad guy mutants have also brought along with them some of Rogen’s own real life friends and frequent collaborators giving us a hysterical crew that includes Bebop and Rocksteady (Seth Rogen and John Cena respectively), Genghis Frog (Hannibal Bures), Leatherhead (Rose Byrne), Wingnut (Natasia Demetriou) Ray Fillet (Post Malone) and of course Mondo Gecko (Paul Rudd delivering what should be an award winning voice performance). These villains have always been silly to some degree, but here they bring a youthfulness that plays off their voice cast seemingly living one of their dreams of playing goofy characters they grew up with. Enough can’t be said about Rudd’s performance as Mondo Gecko. Channeling his inner good vibe character that is reminiscent of his surfer dude in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Gecko not only becomes an instant fan favorite but a constant reminder that these villains are not really villains but lovable mutants rejected by many just trying to find a way to fit in as safely as they can. Ice Cube as Superfly brings that aggressive yet hysterical energy that has been established for over twenty years. There us humor in him by Ice Cube still knows how to bring that ferocious anger that would terrify any human or mutant.

MUTANT MAYHEM may come from a franchise that often basked in the fun over deep emotions, but that doesn’t mean it can’t surpass its predecessors for a hard hitting look at acceptance. While others may be waiting for the usual animated heartbreaking moment or the Pixar emotional manipulation scenes, MUTANT MAYHEM chooses quieter and subtle moments to bring out its deepest feelings. There are the extended looks from their main characters as they enter the sewer’s over and over again leaving a world they want to be a part of behind every time. There is the playful banter between them that often ends in the realization that while they love one another there is the fear this could be all they ever get to have. The boys are very different, any fan can tell you that since so many have spent years picking which turtle they are most like. With this difference comes the desire to find your own pack while still loving your main family. There is not an anger towards one another but they know there has to be others out there that have the same interests as them whether it be science nerds for Donatello, leaders for Leonardo, jokesters for Michelangelo and of course athletes for Ralphael. All these feelings are heightened throughout the film by a score from Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor. While it isn’t shocking that these two deliver another score that finds a way to be bad ass once minute and heart breaking the next what is surprising is that so few family movies have utilized their talents. The last kind of movies one expects to be reminded of when watching mutant turtles is a hard hitting David Fincher film, but with Reznor and Ross you’re always in for a surprise. Or maybe that’s just the new path of the Ninja Turtles to surprise us at every corner. That final “surprise” comes in the form of its awesome 90’s hop hop soundtrack. While the film’s leads may be from modern times its soundtrack is a crash course for new listeners for boom box hip hop all while being a blast to the past for its older audience. An extended scene involving Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” may be the kickstart to some young viewer’s need to break out his parents old cassette tapes. They will be all the better for it.

MUTANT MAYHEM may have larger ideas at its disposal, a sequel and connecting animated series is already in the works, but that doesn’t stop the film from feelings established in its own way. A film that not only makes you want to shout “cowabunga!,” but also one that brings a sincerity to your heart of knowing that the only way this whole human race thing works is through acceptance of others. We may walk over the sewers every day and not think twice but maybe its time we take a lesson from those literally below us and bring them out to the above world where everyone deserves to be. As Mondo Gecko would say “let’s just vibe.” Wise words and ones that could only come from a lovable mutant.

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TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM IS NOW IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE