The Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem 9/10

It takes a certain style of art and humor for me to be into any new animated movie. Some I look at it and go “Meh” or “That bothers me” and I won't watch. But after Ro suggested this after seeing that I have made a ton of turtle based designs said I would enjoy this. When I say this movie got me from the start I mean it. A damned ninja turtle movie started off with “Ante Up” by MOP! By the way, the music in this is incredible. The ones they use and the original soundtrack. This movie was delightful as fuck.

Baxter Stockman is working on an experiment to turn animals humanoid so that he can have friends and someone to talk to. This evil lady (and you know she evil cause her neck is thick) sends in a team to capture Stockman and his experiments. The one guy that tells everyone not to shoot is the first one to do it and a fly goes out the window and Stockman is captured. Some of his ooze ends up falling into the sewer and we know what is gonna happen next.

So Splinter is raising his boys in the sewer telling them how awful humans are and to never talk to them or be seen. They only leave to get more food using skills they have learned from old instructional karate videos. I loved that. The turtles want to integrate into human society and be accepted and go to school. Splinter is having none of that nonsense. He tells them the story of how he was a rat that no human or creature liked except his roach friend that was stomped on. Splinter also tells the boys of how he became a mutant rat after finding them in ooze and getting it on his hands. Its this super dramatic transformation and he just stops and goes “Oh.” He takes them out one day and they are all attacked. The turtles sneak out when they can and watch movies or just look at people and wish they could join.

One night the boys are practicing using weapons and an errant ninja star hits April O'Neil in her helmet. She is yelling at them saying they are acting suspicious when a guy sneaks behind her and steals her bike. The boys feel bad and end up following the guys to a hang out full of criminals. After a very well done fight April shows up and thinks they are wearing costumes. They not. They turtle. The meet with April again, who Leonardo likes, and discover that the wants to write for papers and not be on camera because she tried and threw up. They show it. A lot. Remixed and everything. They hatch a plan to stop this criminal known as Superfly who is stealing tech that the evil lady is also after. They think that if they do this and it is recorded that they can be heroes and accepted. Meanwhile Superfly is ruthless as hell and killing folks who steal parts for him.

The turtles meet with and end up getting along great with Superfly and his crew of toys I used to own. They had my goofy ass cracking up. Yes, I sung Ray Filet. They go bowling and play games and all is good until Superfly tells them his plan. Release the mutagen into the air and kill all the humans or use them for games and turn every creature humanoid. During the trip to the weapon and getting it started the boys realize that they have to stop Superfly and shit gets wild. The ooze ends up falling into the water and combines Superfly with all kinds of sea life and animal. He got horse on his feet! The news thinks the turtles are with him until April bursts in, throws up, and tells the city what is really happening. Splinter goes to save them and gets hurt but helped out by humans. Its sweet as fuck.

I have left some stuff out because I want more people to actually check this out. I watched it on Paramount. Otherwise you gotta pay a few extra bucks on other streaming services. I think if you are between the ages of 54 and 7 you can watch and enjoy this. As a fan of the first couple live action movies, multiple animated films, and the OG cartoon I can say without any doubt that this is the best one. This is the first time the turtles actually felt like brothers and Splinter felt more like a father than a sensei. I liked April as well and she fit in perfectly with them. The last animated movies I felt this way about were Transformers One, Chip & Dale, and Tom & Jerry. Things I enjoyed as a kid and updated but done in a way that people who were fans can enjoy and new ones can too.

Micah Abbey as Donatello

Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo

Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo

Brady Noon as Raphael

Ayo Edebiri as April O'Neil

Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom

John Cena as Rocksteady

Seth Rogen as Bebop

Rose Byrne as Leatherhead

Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut

Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman

Jackie Chan as Splinter

Ice Cube as Superfly

Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko

Post Malone as Ray Fillet

Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog

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