Ryan Shoots First: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
If you grew up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles like I did, then you not only had the Turtle toys but you had all the outrageous non-Turtle mutants too… The Leatherheads, Mondo Geckos, etc. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem takes all the energy of those toys and channels into an impressive animated adventure that stands out in a year of some pretty amazing animated feature films (The Super Mario Bros. Movie and of course, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse).
Animation is having a renaissance and none of the films I mentioned have even come out of the House of Mouse. The aforementioned Spider-Verse saga seems to have had a big effect on Mutant Mayhem when it comes to its animation style. The combination of hand drawn comic aesthetic mixed with different styles, and different frame rates has become a popular style but it’s used well here. It lends to the grungy, mutant aspect of the film. But make no mistake the heart and the strength of this film comes from our four heroes in a half shell.
I can’t say enough about how perfect all four turtles are in this film. I found myself smiling numerous times never getting enough of their interactions with each other and the world they desperately long to be a part of. Much was made of the younger stars casted to play the Turtles but they are all perfect. And this youth movement allows us to be introduced to them at a younger age (you know actual teenagers not 21 year olds) and allows us to grow with them. And yes we will be growing with them as a sequel and a Paramount+ series have already been announced and watching the film knowing that got me even more excited to see where else these four can go.
Each one is so unique in their outlook of the world, their likes and what they want to get out of the surface above. Each one of the four is thoroughly fleshed out and all done almost exclusively with all four being on screen together at the same time. Thinking about it now I’m not sure we ever see them separated in the entire movie. They are four distinct characters but all operating as almost one collective protagonist. I would be interested to know if that was a deliberate decision from the filmmakers because it really helped show their contrasts and differences but also how they all compliment each other so well and strengthen their dynamic. Also they didn’t fall into the TMNT trope of having Raph and Leo feud. Who knows maybe they’ll get there, but for now let’s see them as funny, awkward, quirky 15 year olds. Thinking of how I was at 15, I would have seen a bit of myself in each one of them and I guarantee many in that age group will feel the same. It’s the beauty of the Turtles, we all feel like awkward mutants at that age, we don’t quite fit in, everyone is watching us and we just want to find where we belong. This movie has that at its soul and it gives it so much purpose.
If you haven’t picked up on it yet the Turtles mean a lot to me. As a kid it was Star Wars, Spidey and the Turtles and looking at my collection of Hot Toys and NECA as an adult not much has changed there. Each iteration of the Turtles has brought a little something different but all have that same core of brotherhood and acceptance. That is all this movie is about and it sets the stage for a new era I’m very excited to see more of. Donnie stood out as my favorite of this new batch. Micah Abbey’s timing and delivery got me almost every time. Movies like this where there is so much dialogue thrown out with witty one liners and comebacks don’t all always hit, but like Carmelo Hayes, he didn’t miss. Shamon Brown Jr (Mikey), Nicholas Cantu (Leo) and Brady Noon (Raph) all leave their mark and make the Turtles their own.
The film makes some bold choices in its finale and the ending that will cause some conversation, but again with the series and sequels coming I think it is in a great place to progress the story and the individual stories of Donatello, Michael Angelo, Leonardo and Raphael. I’ve liked all the Turtles movies and series in their own way, but I haven’t been this optimistic about where TMNT is in a while. Oh and to scratch that dark itch we’re getting more Last Ronin content coming so… balance. So I guess you could say for now, maaaaaan I love being a Turtle!
