Review: 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem' excels with humor, novel animation & a beating heart

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

To be sitting in a movie theatre and watching a film with a potload of movie references, hilarious one-liners, and some top-notch animation is as perfect as a movie-viewing experience can be. The legacy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) is one that has witnessed several ups and downs with presentations coming in, but more often than not, the animated features have managed to make a mark. However, with its latest film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, it almost seems like a rebirth of the franchise and the characters; possibly, that is just what it needed. Having had the chance to see the film beforehand, here is what I thought about it-

Humor, humor & more humor

Humor is such a powerful tool for any film, but when done right, it becomes the most powerful tool any film can have. With TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, that is at full display as there is probably the most amount of jokes, one-liners and even a few limericks to enjoy. It can be debated that much of this humor is limited to a particular sense of understanding and awareness - in this case, mostly American. 

Several jokes act like inside jokes for the global audience where they might or might not get the intended laugh. Even then, the back-and-forth exchange between the four mutant turtle brothers, their digs at each other almost constantly and lines like 'he is Tokyo drifting, around us', 'kinda like Hulk from Avengers Endgame', and so many others - you will have the most fun imaginable.

The Human Emotions, Subtext & Animation

Talk about being an almost-perfect film; the film doesn't compromise on the emotions and feelings which is so essential for us to be hooked on. It is almost ironic how mutants hating on humans while also being allured by the freedom of lifestyle is the kind of arc that engages you - a human watching a film. 

The saga involving Splinter of how he was hated when he was just a rat and then hated even more when he became a mutant rat with human mannerisms is so deep in a way that you are consistently hooked. There is subtext in almost all the arcs presented, including the one involving the villain of the film, Superfly, a mutant fly who goes on to have his own reasons for doing what he is doing. The almost envious brotherly bond between the turtle brothers, their connection with their rat father, and ultimately, wanting to live a free life and be accepted as normal blend the kind of recipe you want to devour the most.

And, of course, when it comes to the technical aspects, the comic-book style-meeting-stop-motion-animation is so refreshing, innovative, impactful and immense fun. We saw a manner of the same in the Spiderverse films, but here, the pacing and frames are much simpler and calmer, thus allowing you to soak in every bit of it.

The Voice Cast

As one would expect, with everything going so right, the voice cast had to be phenomenal to make sure nothing was missed out or lost in translation. But boy, is each and every person cast perfectly for their respective voice roles. Ranging from popular names like John Cena as Rocksteady, producer and writer of the film and actor Seth Rogen as Bebop, the fantastic Jackie Chan as Splinter, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, and Post Malone as Ray Fillet - the distinct nature of their voices and the characters they play is a lot of fun and done with precision. 

But, it is the four brothers that take the cake, and hence the likes of Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michaelangelo, Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo and Brady Noon as Raphel - they are the true blue reason why each and every emotion and joke lands in the most apt manner.

The Verdict

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is just the kind of a film that one craves - ranging from having a laugh, being invested and feeling connected to the make-believe world on-screen as much as you don't care about reality, It can safely be said that after a few dismal attempts to keep this franchise going, director Jeff Rowe, along with writers, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Rowe himself carve out a hysterical ride that will be remembered for the right reasons.

Rating - **** (4/5)