TMNT MUTANT MAYHEM REVIEW

!!SPOILERS AHEAD!!

Let me preface this review by saying I am a longtime Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan! My first introduction to them was the 1990's film by Steve Barron, courtesy of my Dad's old DVD collection. I'm a bit of a purist, believing that film is the best live action adaptation to this day, with a perfect balance of the 80's cartoon and dark tone of the original Mirage comic by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird.

Then I watched the 2003 cartoon on the WB4Kids block, and shortly after I would get my hands on those original comics. The current run from IDW has been going on since 2011, and they're pretty good as well!

It's hard to believe it has already been 7 years since their last silver screen appearance with the Michael Bay films, and 16 years since the last animated one! This makes their reemergence feel like a special event. No matter how much superhero slop we get served, I will always look forward to the next Turtle soup!

The Ninja Turtles are the most flexible franchise, with every iteration being different than the last. However, there are always the same story beats; Tension between Leonardo and Raphael, the Foot Clan tries and take over NYC which gradually goes from underground street crime to gaining help from other mutants. Krang and the Destructo-Dome is their Thanos so to speak, and it all ends with an epic showdown between lifelong enemies Master Splinter and The Shredder.

Mutant Mayhem does things a little different this time around.

First thing that is the most notable are the turtles themselves. Their age and demeanor is very preadolescent. This could come off as extremely childish, but I found it charming, and it is not out of place. Sure, the references and lingo will become outdated as the years go by, but the same can be said for all of their past appearances. It's about making them relatable to the young teens of today, and to be fair we were all cringey little shits at 15 years old.

I can't help but smile at their brotherly bond, which I feel is the strongest in this film. This goes for Master Splinter as well, who is less Mr.Miyagi and more fulltime stay at home Dad.

The Turtles experience some real existential crisis during the first act. I'm glad they spent the extra time and really let it settle in, the fear of never leaving your home beneath the most lively city, like pets trapped inside a vivarium.

Considering this time around Splinter is not the man or the pet of Himato Yoshi, but instead a common street rat mutated, there is some bitter prejudice about the humans taught to his adopted sons (which can certainly be applied to some real modern day households)

This is what motivates the teens to rise up from the sewers, and soon encounter their first human friend April O'Neil, who is also quite different.

Instead of a hot shot news reporter or the daughter of a TCRI scientist involved in making the ooze which transformed the turtles, she is simply a high school outcast who suffered bullying. This creates a perfect, natural connection between the characters.

The only thing that makes me uncomfortable is the weird inter-species crush between one of the turtles and April. Sure, it may have been around even in the first film, but this just pushes it a little further (like Donatello level in the 2013 Nickelodeon show)

The villain is not the Shredder, but instead we get Baxter Stockman's Fly! (Kind of). Baxter Stockman was housing animal fetuses for experimentation inside his home when an explosion caused by a raid mutated the critters with nearby OOOZE, including his chunky pet fly.

15 years later, the animals in question would become the iconic Bebop and Rocksteady, alongside some first big screen appearances by classic characters like Wingnut, Leatherhead and Mondo Gecko!

Their big brother is Super Fly, a gangbanging head honcho who wants to kill all humans and have mutants run supreme (Magneto would approve)

The turtles would find brotherhood with these other mutants, however it is Super Fly that proves to be selfish in his means. His grand plan blows up in his face, transforming him into a giant mutated mass of live animals (which is really horrifying when you think about it).

With the help of their new friends and family, the turtles save the day with antidote provided by TCRI (who earlier tried to capture them for their blood).

As for the ending, it’s a pretty surprising twist..

The turtle family grows with the addition of the mutants (who are almost always portrayed as recurring villains). They don't revert back into the shadows and await the next adventure (cough Shredder cough cough), instead they become accepted by society and enroll in high school..?!

That just blows my mind, it’s strange but refreshing! Yea, its not the same old same old, but I personally think none of the current superhero films/tv shows are doing things different enough to matter. Not even the comics are redeemable. It's films like TMNT Mutant Mayhem that change it up enough to make it worth checking in on future installments.

Also this goes without saying, but the art style is amazing! Believe it or not, they are not the same team who worked on Spider-verse, but it's all equally a treat to see unique, exaggerated art styles that break the typical 3D Pixar mold.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this for a watch! It has something that everyone can enjoy, like any good Ninja Turtles media should, and just a little bit more!