In 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.
TMNT: Mutant Mayhem shines with a singular vision of the Turtles that’s both nostalgic and completely new! The cel-shaded CG animation looks distinctive and unique from other contemporary animated films. The film’s editing and direction are snappy and mesh well with the Turtles’ world. The purposeful imperfections in the character designs underscore the underlying theme of four brothers trying to fit in.
Where the film stumbles is in its depiction of “Hip Gen-Z teenage” slang and humor. If simply mentioning Beyonce, Guy Fieri, BTS, Attack on Titan, and Avengers: Endgame is enough to make you chuckle, then you won’t have any problems with the film. I however, found the non-stop pop-culture references irritating and inauthentic to the depiction of contemporary teenagers.
Despite some elements that don’t work, there are a lot that do. There are exciting twists on TMNT lore, new interpretations of old characters, and solid voiceover performances overall. Whether you’re a longtime Turtles fan or discovering them for the first time, you’ll find something to love.
Mutant Mayhem’s score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Watchmen, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) is phenomenal! This is a nasty soundtrack that kicks hard and feels more in line with TMNT’s underground comix roots. TMNT: Mutant Mayhem is a fresh and engaging take on everyone’s favorite Turtles. The fresh art direction and amazing soundtrack make this the best incarnation of TMNT we’ve ever had on the big screen.
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