The film follows the Turtle brothers as they work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants.
Chuck says:
I never understood the appeal of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They burst on the scene when I was preoccupied with college and though I’ve always been a comic book fan, the premise surrounding them seemed silly even by those standards. However, thanks to Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears’ “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” I think I’m beginning to understand the appeal. Focusing as much on characters and relationships as it does action, the movie walks a fine line between catering to the expectations of life-long fans and those just jumping on the “Turtle” train. I think it succeeds in pleasing both as I was engaged from start to finish, while laughter was heard throughout the theater from those who could obviously rattle off detailed histories of the half-shelled heroes.
The titular characters, Donatello (voice by Micah Abbey), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) and Raphael (Brady Noon) are eager to leave their sewer home, tired of eavesdropping on the human world, wanting desperately to interact with them. However, their mentor Splinter (Jackie Chan) has told them they’ll be treated as outsiders and scorned if they venture forth, a warning they’re more than prepared to ignore. A misadventure causes them to cross paths with erstwhile reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), who tells them she’s eager to get to the bottom of a recent spate of thefts, perpetrated by the criminal mastermind known as Superfly (Ice Cube). Eventually she learns these crimes are part of a grand scheme to pollute the atmosphere with a toxin that will render all humans, mutants. Seeing this as an opportunity to prove themselves and win the favor from those that would shun them, they set out to thwart this plot.
The sense of loneliness and alienation the fearless foursome feel is in keeping with typical teenage angst and if the film has a fault, it’s that it lays it on a bit too thick where its theme is concerned. Be that as it may, their journey towards acceptance by the outside world is peppered with encounters with other creatures who’ve been altered by the fateful ooze that changed them. An all-star cast, including Paul Rudd, Seth Rogan, Rose Byrne, Post Malone, and Hannibal Burress, voice the various rhinos, insects, and lizards who are equally despondent about their condition. The line readings from these vets are suffused with energy, irony, and humor. Due to their efforts, I found myself giggling throughout.
The action is imaginatively rendered, and the story moves at a brisk pace but it’s the style of the animation that stands out. There’s a stylized but ragged look to the film that captures the grit of the urban setting. Jagged, exaggerated lines, colors that are outside the lines, slightly misshapen objects, pulsing jumbles reflecting a glowing light, all of it reflects the type of doodles you’d see in a teenager’s notebook. The images literally pulsate at times, its vibrant quality hypnotizing and invigorating. The imagination poured into the project is obvious in every frame.
Post-modern humor abounds, in-jokes flying as fast as ninja stars. Cube’s Superfly seems to have escaped from a blaxploitation sci-fi flick, while Chan gives call backs to his on-screen legacy. However, it’s the voice work from the four young principals that puts the film over the top. The enthusiasm the quartet brings the characters is delightful, their passion for the project obvious and infectious. These kids have an affinity for these characters and thanks in large part to their fervent approach, I was charmed by the titular foursome. A major surprise, “Mayhem” is a showcase for all the endearing qualities that help these characters and their franchise endure.
3 Stars
Pam says:
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” hits theaters this summer just as kids are buying their back to school supplies and it’s perfect timing for this positive message film. Whether you’ve seen the other films or know the story at all isn’t of any importance as we meet the four adorable turtle teens and get their backstory thanks to dear old Rat dad, Master Splinter (Jackie Chan), who does not like to be called Ratatouille. We walk back in time to find out the sad, sad story of this Rat who has never been loved or even tolerated by anyone, but in particular, humans. Stumbling upon the four baby turtles who had a strange ooze covering them, Splinter found his family he longed for, but not before they were all affected by the green goo.
It’s a gritty, grimy introduction to their origins and while the darkness is initially foreboding, you quickly see the pages turn to the light-hearted wit of these innocent and awkward teenagers attempting to live on the fringes of humanity. The story stays true or perhaps pays homage to comic book graphics with its animation that brings us into the dank, dark streets and underbelly of New York City. Superfly (Ice Cube), a criminal mastermind, is wreaking havoc on the streets as he attempts to rob and pillage for his own delight. Meanwhile, Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantù) and Raphael (Brady Noon) long for acceptance in the world of humans so that they too can go to movie night in Brooklyn and go to a high school like Ferris Bueller. Their perceptions are way off, but that endears us to the shell-backed ninjas. Inadvertently, they befriend a human named April O’Neil (Ayo Edibiri) a high school journalist with issues of acceptance of her own, who is also looking for a way to be a hero. Together, this odd group gets into deeper and deeper trouble with Superfly as they try to save the world.
“Mutant Mayhem” is just downright good fun from start to finish and on every level. The animation is incredible with a stop-motion feel, but the wildness of a 3D comic book. The frenetic energy is invigorating, not irritating, thanks to the coordination of storytelling and animation. Writers Seth Rogan, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe and more give us dynamic characters all suffering from lack of confidence and a longing for acceptance and love. This is the through line that ties not only the characters together, but the audience as well. We see how these issues impact others differently as this creates a sense of both sympathy and empathy. The writing group also skillfully intertwines humor for both the little tykes and adults which keeps us all engaged, not to mention how the music adds to each and every scene. Taking advantage of a wide array of styles, the music supports the action, the emotion, and even makes us sing along or tap our toes.
Finding the right voices to bring these animated turtles and characters to life is no easy task, but the voice actors suit their roles perfectly. The Teen Turtles all give their own personality to their characters and Edebiri hones her skills as April, a smart teen who is struggling with her past. And when you add in an all-star cast like Maya Rudolph as the evil Cynthia Utrom and Ice Cube as the Mutant gone wrong Superfly, as well as John Cena, Rose Byrne, Giancarlo Esposito, and Chan, you’ve got all the necessary ingredients for success.
“Mutant Mayhem” is fun for the whole family as it emphasizes empathy, kindness, compassion, and finding commonalities instead of differences. Gorgeously animated, this movie brilliantly entertains both kids and adults, although keep the littlest of tykes at home as this is made more for the elementary school-aged kids and older.
3 ½ stars
