Since 1983, generations have grown up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the movies, cartoons, and action figures that have come from the franchise. Later this week, the latest movie is going to hit theaters. And while the main characters are the same and familiar to the ones most fans grew up with – this version of the Ninja Turtles is not like any version we’ve seen before.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem follows the four turtles we know and love as they start to rebel against their dad Splinter and want to go out into the real world above the sewers. The overprotective father figure, Splinter (Jackie Chan) does everything he can to try to protect them from humans, while the turtles who are fifteen now, want nothing more than to experience high school and life above. One on of their covert trips to the store for supplies, the brothers have a chance run-in with April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri) who is working on a case about a giant fly that is terrorizing the city in hopes to get Prom put back on the schedule.
The friendship between the Ninja Turtles and April grows, but so does a plan to make them heroes (in a half shell) while April breaks a story that will change her future too. Of course, nothing can be as easy as planned by five teenagers – but that’s part of the fun of the movie and story.
While they may not look exactly like the version of the Ninja Turtles you grew up with, the characters are still the same. And let’s be real, it’s a lot closer than the 2014 and 2016 versions. They’re not hulked out, instead, the characters are more believable as teenagers who are growing and finding out who they are. They still love pizza, because, of course, they do. And they’ve updated the references in the film and there are still a lot of pop culture comments that will later date the film. But they also had a good throw back to things that older fans will love and laugh at as well. It seems like this version tried to play homage to the past versions but still keep it fresh enough for younger viewers.
There were a lot of interesting choices made in Mutant Mayhem, from the references to the music choices and even the jokes throughout it. You could easily feel Seth Rogan’s hands all over the script. But one of the most interesting choices was the animation style, and honestly, it took a little while to get used to it. The characters are all animated in an almost hybrid style of 2D and 3D which made them almost feel like claymation. Was it as jarring as the last live-action version? No, they almost felt more like the 90s turtles version again, but a more artistic representation. The animation style almost seemed experimental, or like they were trying something to compete with the recent successes in the Spider-Verse. But after a few minutes, it’s less abrasive and is something that slips in and out of focus while you’re watching the movie.
Mutant Mayhem is simply a reboot of our favorite characters but tried to update it for a younger and new audience. Fans of TMNT are going to love this version, and even if you go into the movie hesitant – it will win you over in the end. It’s a nice relaunch of a franchise for the next generation to love the same mutant characters we grew up with.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hits theaters everywhere on August 2nd.
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About Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem:
After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.
Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies Present
A Point Grey Production