While I wasn't initially thrilled by the idea of yet another TMNT reboot, of sorts, I am always happy to see new Turtles (except when they're being delivered by Michael Bay). I would say I was doubly skeptical with the film giving us Turtles that were more like kids than the cool, party dudes we're used to. Yet, it not only works, but feels like the exact reboot of the TMNT we've needed. Indeed, this is probably the best cinematic take we've had since the original film. I loved everything about it, from the perfectly cast voice actors to the characterizations making them feel naturally like teenagers, to the animation, action, comedy, and even the villains. This was a wonderful, late summer surprise.
We're once again getting an origin story, with our favorite Turtles being young teenagers who have spent their life in the sewers of New York after exposure to the world outside proved to be dangerous and uninviting for mutants. Their father, the rat Splinter, has kept them safe there, but the Turtles are anxious to break out of their confines and see the world outside. When a new, villainous group of mutants poses a threat to the human race, the group see it as a chance to put their martial arts skills to good use and become heroes that the world would accept, even in their mutated state.
Mutant Mayhem is a fairly light hearted take on the Turtles, with the film frequently being funny and fun. Even the core story and the stakes it presents never feels too serious. Yet, the heart at the core of the story is highly relatable and easy to both digest and get behind. The teenagers want acceptance, a similar motivation to the mutant villains, and their action, dialogue, and story beats all feel natural. While the Turtles acting as teenagers might seem like an easy thing to screw up by having them act as adults might imagine them too, they instead genuinely feel like kids. It's surprisingly insightful and natural, and the TMNT are enjoyable to be with the entire film. Supporting them is April O'Neil, this time a fellow teenager with aspirations to be a reporter who also feels natural as a fellow outcast looking to find her own acceptance. It's a nice change to this character as well, as her own foibles are highly compatible with the Turtles.
The characters and story are supported by wonderful, imaginative animation and style. This takes a page out off Sony's animated Spider-Man movies, but it doesn't feel like a knock off. If Spider-Man felt like comic pages literally coming to life, this feels like comic book style art melded with CG animation. And while this might seem like it could detract from the action and animation, the opposite is true. The action is excellent and the animation is consistently interesting. It doesn't quite touch on the previous animated TMNT film, which for me is maybe the best animated TMNT production we've ever had, but it comes pretty damn close. As a total package though, I really couldn't ask for a better TMNT movie.
Some will be turned off by the changes to the lore, design, and characterizations, I am hard pressed to find anything I didn't like with the movie. It didn't quite hit the perfect 10 for me, but it does come very close.
We're once again getting an origin story, with our favorite Turtles being young teenagers who have spent their life in the sewers of New York after exposure to the world outside proved to be dangerous and uninviting for mutants. Their father, the rat Splinter, has kept them safe there, but the Turtles are anxious to break out of their confines and see the world outside. When a new, villainous group of mutants poses a threat to the human race, the group see it as a chance to put their martial arts skills to good use and become heroes that the world would accept, even in their mutated state.
Mutant Mayhem is a fairly light hearted take on the Turtles, with the film frequently being funny and fun. Even the core story and the stakes it presents never feels too serious. Yet, the heart at the core of the story is highly relatable and easy to both digest and get behind. The teenagers want acceptance, a similar motivation to the mutant villains, and their action, dialogue, and story beats all feel natural. While the Turtles acting as teenagers might seem like an easy thing to screw up by having them act as adults might imagine them too, they instead genuinely feel like kids. It's surprisingly insightful and natural, and the TMNT are enjoyable to be with the entire film. Supporting them is April O'Neil, this time a fellow teenager with aspirations to be a reporter who also feels natural as a fellow outcast looking to find her own acceptance. It's a nice change to this character as well, as her own foibles are highly compatible with the Turtles.
The characters and story are supported by wonderful, imaginative animation and style. This takes a page out off Sony's animated Spider-Man movies, but it doesn't feel like a knock off. If Spider-Man felt like comic pages literally coming to life, this feels like comic book style art melded with CG animation. And while this might seem like it could detract from the action and animation, the opposite is true. The action is excellent and the animation is consistently interesting. It doesn't quite touch on the previous animated TMNT film, which for me is maybe the best animated TMNT production we've ever had, but it comes pretty damn close. As a total package though, I really couldn't ask for a better TMNT movie.
Some will be turned off by the changes to the lore, design, and characterizations, I am hard pressed to find anything I didn't like with the movie. It didn't quite hit the perfect 10 for me, but it does come very close.