Fellman's Movie Reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a 2023 animated superhero film based on the Ninja Turtles franchise. It is a take on the origin story of the turtles, but it focuses on the teenage aspect of the team, more so than the ninja part. It tells a tale of them coming out of the sewer and wanting to go to high school and be accepted into human society by regular people while Splinter is distrustful and wants to keep them segregated in order to keep them protected from the world above. 

I thought this was a good movie. It has a good story for a turtles movie. Nobody ever really focuses on the “teenage” part of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This really puts that into perspective. And it shows Splinter as a protective, father figure type. Worried about his sons, and trying to keep them safe at a time when they’re adventurous and wanting to see the outside world. It’s hard to raise teenage boys. I can only imagine it’s even harder when those teenage boys have the skills of ninjas. 

The animation was something that I really liked, too. It had a cool, kind of stylized feature to it. Like there was always something going on, indirectly to what you were looking at. Like Samurai Jack, except not as pointy. That’s probably not the best explanation for it. But some cartoon fans might get the reference. And Genndy Tartakosvky fans will definitely know what I’m talking about.  

And the voice cast are some really big names for a cartoon. All except for the turtles, of course. Who are just four teenagers that they cast. Which I think was the right move, actually. Get some people who can relate to being to being around the same age and have them play the role. “Imagine what you would be like if you were a turtle…” That’s inspiration right there. And they had the turtles all record their lines at the same time in the studio, which I think is also a great idea. Because the turtles would always be hanging out together. Keep the voice actors together as well. Let them play off each other just like the turtles would do. Make it as realistic of a cartoon as possible. It turned out well, I think. 

I can only imagine it must be harder and harder to bring something that was created almost 40 years ago into this new technological age and still make it seem like it’s the same story. Because things were so different when the Ninja Turtles were created. Not only that, but the story is so different, too. It changes over time a little bit every time they tell it. You can’t help it. It’s the movie equivalent of whisper down the lane, with turtles… 

It’s still a good watch, though. Fun for the whole family, and anybody who just likes the Ninja Turtles. So, yeah. Go and see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. See if you can pick up on some of the easter eggs throughout the movie. (Hint: their high school is named Eastman High…) And as always, keep on watching, with a smile on your face…