Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) by Gohanhitsugaya — 02 Aug 2023

I just don't like that Master Splinter isn't a human who's already a master of martial arts, and then becomes a mutant. Just fuse him with a rat, and let him retain the memories of both.

That could be how he finds their home in the sewer, through the memories of the rat. But this BS where he learns martial arts second hand, from a book or some videos needs to stop. Let him already be a master!

Also, the voices were miscast. Mikey should've been Raph, Donnie should've been Mikey; Leo should've been Donnie, and Raph should've been Leo. Given the VAs they had. Mikey's the youngest, and he should sound; like the youngest. Even if the VA isn't.

The art and animation felt more like a, proof of concept to me. It needs, more work. More, refinement. If they quit it with the fake stop motion, and claymation. And go back to something like, the 2012 TV show character models. Then they might have something good on their hands.

I struggle to rate this honestly, the Turtles felt more like they were 13; rather then 15. And with them constantly talking over each other, it was a bit much. Though the focus on them actually being kids, was a nice change. Which also lends to them feeling like they're younger then stated.

Raph didn't get much characterization, or screen time; this go around.

Donnie and Mikey were the cutest, so *give me more of them* is how I felt throughout the entire movie. And Leo was, passable. Possibly, even on the more likable side of Leo portrayals?

And April, wasn't a redhead; again. Nor was she attractive. Not even personality wise! In fact, personality wise; she, didn't leave much of an impact at all. She was just, kind of; there.

I think, this is a very mixed bag; there is potential. Though, not as much potential as the 2012 TV series had.

And then there's the fact that they seemed to, spell out the morals? It was like how, explaining the joke; kills the joke. Same thing here, but with moral lessons. That was, pretty cringe worthy.

All that being said, I might have given this a 5/10, but this is the second time around we've had this same issue with Splinter. In the Bay films, it was a small book; here, it's video.

Which means, my final score is gonna have to be a 4/10; it's got potential, but some things need to be ironed out.