Friday, 18 August 2023

Movie Review: TMNT Mutant Mayhem

Anthony’s notice: This review is posted during SAG-AFTRA strike against AMPTP, meaning many major reviewers (commonly on Youtube) are either in delays, halts or having a limited review. But as for me, I wasn’t part of the SAG-AFTRA, since im working on a thrift store (though my vacation will coming to an end, as im writing this), meaning im a minor reviewer in DA that i won’t be effected from the strike to call “Promoting AMPTP products” (so I thought), since reviews are meant to sharing our thoughts of any medias like movies, TV shows, video games, etc. Of course, we shall be supportive to actors and writers for their solidarity in movies and TVs industries. Thank you.


Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my Movie Review.

You know guys, if you ever have your all time favorite childhood animated shows that you grew up with as a kid, you easily think of Pokemon, Digimon, Transformers (before Michael Bay cashing in), Animaniacs and few others came to mind. But the one show that I know many people love to talk about is “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle”, originated in the comic in 1984 after its success, Fred Wolf Studio cashed in to brought us an animated show and became popular that we all know and love in 1987 all the way to 1996. However, I never grew up with this show, but the one that I kinda remember is the 2003 version, im sure that some people loved it even though some said that its not as fresh as the 1987 one. But it didn’t matter, cause over decades, Ninja Turtles are all over from its popularity for both kids and general audience, its as you always love to grab a remote to see the show of our favorite badass and playful mutated ninjas of fighting bad guys and eating pizza. Of course, Ninja Turtles are not only been on TV, but on the big screen as well, but they went from alright to mediocre results. But recently, it looks like there’s another attempt that maybe… This could be a lot more promising, right?

“TMNT: Mutant Mayhem” is 2023 animated superhero movie that written/directed by Jeff Rowe, produce/co-written by Seth Rogen (Ohh yeah, him again since his role of DK) and Evan Goldberg, co-produced by James Weaver, and co-written by Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit (two of them for screenplay) and Brendan O’Brian (the latter for story).

Following appointment between Nickelodeon and Ramsay Naito, she wanted to have another TMNT movie attempt, with Brian Robbins gave an appreciation, but need somebody to get involve. Enter Seth Rogan, Jeff Rowe and Evan Goldberg, these guys signed in with Nickelodeon Animation Studio for their first taste on the big screen. Seth Rogen, being a fan of TMNT since his childhood, wanted to make this gearing towards teenagers, mainly how our main Ninja Turtles are meant to be… You know, teens, which it probably explained how they sounded and depicted when we saw the trailer.

So, with all that said, can Ninja Turtles made a good start in their younger teen days, or the mutants clearly made into mayhem?

Well, lets find out.


The Story
When it comes to a movie about TMNT, its rather a standard superhero movie (though im sure some TMNT fans know its another revision of previous versions), but with unlikely teen heroes with mixed writing.

The movie begins in a brief origin where a scientist named Baxter Stockman created a mutagen (aka a “Green Ooze”) to creating animals in mutant form for one thing… FAMILY. However, he was caught and probably killed by the squadron of Techno Cosmic Research Institute (or TCRI for short), but a bottle of Green Ooze was dropped all the down to the sewer in New York City, giving the birth of Ninja Turtles and accidental contaminated from a rat has our heroes’ mentor. Fast Forward to 15 years later, the Ninja Turtles are enjoy their lives to going out, even if they want to be accepted from the humans, while Splinter doesn’t want to interacting them from his humiliating origins before they’re training with ninjutsu. However, while our unlikely heroes wanted to meet humans, (one of which is they witness April O’Neil), they also heard about a mutated housefly named “SuperFly” trying to building a machine to wiping out humanity into mutants (not in X-Men way), its up to Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael to save humanity in New York as they can to be accepted than being outcasts.

While its a pretty standard superhero movie, but with teenage Ninja Turtles to not only learning to be a hero, but also wanting to be clear that not all mutants are a threat against the society. Which it sounds good as a teenage heroes, but the downside is that… Its been done before, you know, the plot about an outcast hero trying to be a hero, but didn’t get a good treatment either family, school or heck, even humanity either you’re an alien, mutant, monster, whatever. Again, I get this is about teenage ninjas trying to connect with humanity to show they’re meant to be hero, but aside of kinda being unoriginal for the message, but its the execution is mixed, sometimes it has understandable part, but sometimes, barely trying that it feels super cliché. As for the superhero plot, it feels just like any superheroes stories that we’ve heard, a villain’s goal is to wiping out humanities with an evil experiment and that’s it, leaving it only feels like done before too, but it could also be predictable. But it doesn’t mean the writing is broken down mess of being unoriginal, it does gave us a plot development about the characters and even the origins, especially if again, TMNT fans are familiar with. But another downside is that despite I give an appreciation to have a heart moments with some creative part, its just the movie is fast pacing at some moments, I know this movie lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes, but its just that without some proper development know more other than Ninja Turtles themselves we never be able to know, but at least we got some fascinating and creative developments, again, for the most part. And has for the humor, like the mixed writing, its a double edged sword, it does have some moments that I did chuckle or laughing, but its feels like the jokes are made for teens like obvious Pop Culture References and couple of teen jokes that either worked and dangerously close to be cringe (At least the writing is better than the GodAwful TTG movie…!).

The writing is mixed that its more about character driven development with some good executions with hearts, some humors and some message, but sometimes, the plot is poor for being just like any kinds of unlikely hero movies out there.


The Animation
I will say, the animation in this looks pretty good to have a different style for yet another inspiration from previous animated films.

For starter, the background is no stranger to be taken place in Manhattan, but it looks beautiful in a skyline view but in the city, which it looks good, but you notice the scribble effects at either the effect itself or the background.

Speaking of scribble, for the animation, the best way to describing this is, imagine Sony’s Spider-Verse but scribbling with underground and indie comic style for the backgrounds, effects and others while the characters and others are done with CG. Yup, its another one of those unique animation with 3D with 2D effect/style, honestly, im cool with it since I enjoyed Spider-Verse. Even though we always enjoy the full animated CG movie, but in a perfect, any film would be like Spider-Verse, especially this, I love the kind of animation with blending with 3D animation with 2D effects and such, I guess il give a credit for Nickelodeon took an inspiration what Sony did.

As for the character designs, they good to mixed. The Ninja Turtles themselves are straight forward, keeping the same design with different color either their gears or either skin colors to fit in their personalities, aside that I questioned why Michelangelo’s head looks like a watermelon. The other mutants design are pretty cool looking that some remains the same as either the comic or cartoons or some just be different what they want, sure some have a cartoony design, but like our ninja heroes, they’re possibly designed based on their personalities. As for the human designs, well, they’re mixed bag, some are nice looking like April and TCRI, but some are either poorly designed or even deformed, I get that its purposely made abstract or off-putting in underground style, but im very nit-picky for some of the human designs, I guess it explained the reason the main focus of the character designs are the turtles and the other mutants.

Of course, since this is TMNT, there’s always gotta including the action scenes, I gotta say, while its kinda messy for fast pacing, but its pretty good, fun and creative, the latter of which is the transition with either ramming bad guys and spinning transition in different background while they’re fighting, which is pretty good for the transition while the camera keeps moving. But the downside is that at the first and second act didn’t have the focus of actions, which I know that this movie is mainly towards characters driven, but then again, the action scenes are good, but could’ve add a little bit more.

Even though it may not be as perfect for some designs, but the animation deserves a credit for great animation, designs effects, actions and il always give appreciation for their inspiration after Sony’s Spider-Verse.


The Characters
While the writing aren’t as perfect for not being original for the plot, but its safe the say the better writing is probably the chemistry of the characters for driven development.

Lets start off with Ninja Turtles themselves, Leonardo (voiced by Nicolas Cantu, aka Junky Janker on Youtube), Donatello (voiced by Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (voiced by Shamon Brown Jr.) and Raphael (voiced by Brady Noon). As we all know these bros are the main heroes to be ninjas in New York, they look to fight the bad guys and love to eating pizzas. Though im sure we all know about their different personalities, Leo being an honorable leader of the bros for responsibility, Donatello being techno-nerd, Mikey being a comedic role for his party attitude, and Ralph being a brute and impulsive. But here, while they have a remaining personalities that we all know, they’re both shared one thing, being a younger teens to they want to be accepted as a hero to humans than being outcasts, despite they’re constantly over-hyping up, but keep in mind, they are younger teens that they’re just getting started before its now a serious business as ninja heroes in New York, then again, this is Rogen’s idea of their character developments that our main heroes are acting more like a young or mid teens. Oh yeah, did I mention the Ninja Turtles are actually voiced by actual teens? Pretty nice to hear their performance, honestly, I think they did a good job.

Next up, we have April O’Neil (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), in this movie, not only April changed to Afro-American (I know its another controversial change, but il get used to it), but she’s an inspired journalist in her school that when she tried for her dream, but her anxiety went high by… Vomiting out (Jeez, eating much, April…?). However, she’s the first person to interacting our ninja heroes. At first, I thought she’s a forgettable know-it-all, but after rethinking, I think she’s fairly descent for not only give a respect to Ninja bros, but also, again, the first person who thinks the turtles themselves aren’t as bad as abomination to give them acceptance. Even though some will probably making a poor excuse trend with hashtag “NotMyAprilONeil” for her design, but again, in fairness, I think she’s not bad after all and Ayo did a nice work too.

Next up, its Splinter (voiced by my favorite filmmaking martial artist, Jackie Chan), as we all know, Splinter is the mentor of our main heroes to train to do Ninjutsu and, like any Senseis, he can also be their helping hands if they’re in trouble. Here, he likes to be isolated due to his distaste of humans when he first interact while taking care young turtles. I find him ok, even if its too be he didn’t have a more screen time to have a chemistry between him and Turtle bros for relationship that, again, not all mutants aren’t as bad what Splinter is thinking off. Though say what you think of Chan’s performance, I mean yes, I know his English speaking is forced since he’s been in Rush Hour (btw, that movie is pretty fun to watch that I recommend), but as time went on and as we all know he’ll get used to it, and honestly, I think he did a good job for his delivery.

Then we have an original villain character, SuperFly (voiced by Ice Cube), this mutated housefly is quite of over-the-top, even though we thought he may sounds like he could be friendly, but in reality, he’s the main villain for his goal is to wiping out humanities for mutants’ domination. Honestly, I think he’s a memorable villain, a two-faced mutated housefly for his goal to bring mutants against humanity, even though its sounds like any typical villains of monsters wiping out humanity attempt, but this thanks to his personality and a fun performance of Ice Cube.

Finally, we have yet another original villain, Cynthia Utrom (voiced by Maya Rudolph, aka Linda Mitchell from The Mitchells vs The Machines (Oh look another The Mitchells inclusion since Jeff Rowe), aka Daniela Paguro from Luca), she’s the executive of TCRI, her evil goal is wiping mutants based on her vendetta about mutation animals with mutagen what Baxter created. I find her to be… Forgettable, I mean, we have SuperFly being a memorable villain, but I find her lame, she’s just an evil corporate who’s trying to wiping out mutants like Ninja Turtles as a menace against humanity, when in reality, our ninja heroes are… Well, heroes and curious to interacting humans like April. Though we have a memorable mutant villain, but for Cynthia? What the heck is the point of her for the plot? No offense to Maya, cause she did a nice performance, but its just how she’s in the movie is pretty much in a wrong place.

As for the rest, we’ll stick to other mutants, but I find the other mutants are pretty good too.
There’s Bepop and Rocksteady (voiced by Seth Rogen and “And his name is JOHN CENA!”) they’re the famous duo henchmen like we’ve seen before, Leatherhead (voiced by Rose Byrne) who acts minor of the group who happens to be non-binary, Wingnut (voiced by Natasia Demetriou) a mutant bat who likes to be a superhero, sounds like she likes to be Batman, but more like Man-Bat, Mondo Gecko (voiced by Ant-Man himself, Paul Rudd), a skater gecko who not only loves neon, but he’s also likes to be Mikey’s cuz, Ray Fillet (voiced by surprisingly Post Malone) who’s mutant Ray whom… I think he’s obsessed of opera singing, I wonder how he reacts while listening rock opera, Genghis Frog (voiced by Hannibal Buress), who looks cute at first, but he’s a deadly ax-wielder (Yeesh, whatever happens if there’s other frogs like Attila or Rasputin?), and Scumbug, a mutant cockroach who’s… Pretty doing nothing, other than speaking vermin.

While having two villains is a mixed bag, since I stick to Ice Cube’s SuperFly, the characters are pretty good for their remains the same or be different compare to other versions what we saw from either films or animated shows.


And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem is good for say the least, even though im not TMNT fanboy, but I like it.

The characters are pretty good to either remains the same or got some changes (minus Cynthia), the action scenes are pretty good to watch as TMNT film, the jokes are not bad, and the animation is outstanding as another inspirational of Sony’s Spider-Verse, or in this case, inspired from The Mitchells vs The Machines due to both Jeff Rowe and Maya Rudolph.

However, I wanted to love this movie, but the writing id a mixed bag, it has a nice character driven to know, as well as acknowledge about TMNT what we all know from the beginning, but the rest of the plot feels unoriginal and pretty cliché. Not to mention, ii just wish if they could give us a bit more actions and maybe a better story to be original than being just like any other superhero movies what we’ve seen before.

Though I know the reviewers and cinema goers give a big appreciation with giving 9 out of 10, il give a respect, but for me, its good, but I wish it would’ve been greater as they said, aw well. This is definitely recommended to TMNT fans, but if you’re new or being a minor fan like I am, I think its probably worth of watching, granted that its different than other TMNT contents, but il give an appreciation to be different what Seth Rogen and Jeff Rowe came up with.

For my rating, im gonna give this one a 7.5/10.


So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on KO-FI.com/blackevil.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.

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