Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) by Repoman86 — 03 Aug 2023

As a lifelong TMNT fan who has seen every Turtles movie in theaters, I can confirm this is a truly fresh and fun take on the Turtles! Rogen said from the start he wanted to focus on the "Teenage" aspect of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and he nailed it! For most people, the formidable teenage years can be the most difficult as we struggle to find who we are and where our place is in the world. Imagine going through all of that while at the same time you're a mutated turtle who lives in the sewer with your rat dad. The story is filled with heart as we see the brothers go through these emotions as they long to fit into and be accepted by a world that they've been taught will undoubtedly reject them.

The art style is incredibly unique and a treat to watch. It's got a "doodling in your school notebook" feel to it that really pops, and the soundtrack pairs with the animation like pepperoni on pizza. My son and I were both bobbing our heads to the beat many times.

The performances are what truly standout with this movie though. Jackie Chan as Splinter and Ice Cube as Superfly give such great performances and the quartet of actual teenagers as the four turtle brothers is something I didn't even know I wanted as a TMNT fan until now. It just makes sense. The way they talk over each other and spout their inside jokes and generational-specific slang, this is definitely the first time the Turtles have come across as actual teenagers. Ayo Edebiri brought April O'Neil to a more human level than just "damsel in distress" as she was in the original cartoon and really captured that chaotic and confused feeling of suddenly being pulled into the world of an underground group of mutated anthropomorphic animals. The icing on this delicious cake is the supporting cast of fellow mutants like Ray, Mondo Gecko, Wingnut, Bebop and Rocksteady.