“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is a new animated superhero film that was directed by Jeff Rowe. It will officially be released on August 2 via Paramount Pictures.
The synopsis is: 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.
The voice cast includes Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), Sharon Brown Jr. (Mikey), Micah Abbey (Donnie), Brady Noon (Raph), Jackie Chan (Splinter), Ayo Edebiri (April), Ice Cube (Superfly), Seth Rogen (Bebop), John Cena (Rocksteady), Paul Rudd (Mondo Gecko), Rose Byrne (Leatherhead), Post Malone (Ray Fillet), Hannibal Buress (Genghis Frog), Natasia Demetriou (Wing Nut), Maya Rudolph (Cynthia Utrom), and Giancarlo Esposito (Baxter Stockman).
Jackie Chan has some witty and clever lines as the turtles’ “father figure” Splinter, and he is their voice of reason, especially in times when they need his advice the most (when try to rebel and “fit in” the human world”).
Each of the four turtles (Leonardo, Donnie, Ralph, and Mikey) are able to showcase their distinct personalities and talents in this film, and they make the audience want to root for them.
It is definitely a heartwarming film about being accepted into society, in an effort to co-exist with humans. Ayo Edebiri is able to bring empathy and humanity with her voice work as April O’Neil. It is neat to watch her character redeem herself in this movie. Its musical score helps elevate the fight and action scenes.
The only downside is that some of the jokes are a bit dirty and dark (especially for a movie that is geared towards kids and youth), and some of the action scenes towards the end are a bit overdone, so parental guidance is strongly suggested; moreover, the CGI serves the movie’s overall effect.
It has a pleasant and surprising ending, and as the credits roll, the audience learns that it ends with a further cliffhanger (that involves the nefarious villain Shredder), which could possibly imply that there will be a sequel.
The Verdict
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is solid and good fun. The filmmakers and cast of “Ninja Mayhem” deserve to be commended for their imaginative creativity in bringing their popular franchise to life.
Growing up in the ’90s, this journalist always had an affinity for the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” comic books, cartoons, and even video games, and this new film was able to bring the nostalgia value back into the movie theater in a refreshing manner.
It will help introduce these classic characters to a younger generation that may be unfamiliar with them.
Grab some popcorn, icies, pizza, and get ready to go on an action-packed “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ninja Mayhem” adventure. This is a movie that will make viewers scream “Cowabunga!” This new film provides a form of escapism, and it garners four out of five stars.
