[FILM REVIEW] TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM Review (2023)

September 4, 2023September 7, 2023 Dave Alex First, Ayo Edebiri, Benji Samit, Brady noon, Canada, Central Coast Radio, Dan Hernandez, David Faustino, David Griffiths, Dempsey Pappion, Evan Goldberg, Giancarlo Esposito, Hannibal Buress, Harley Woods, Ice Cube, Jackie Chan, Japan, Jeff Rowe, John Cena, Kyle McGrath, Kyler Spears, Lee Griffiths, Maya Rudolph, Micah Abbey, Michael Badalucco, Myra Owyang, Natasha Demetriou, Nicolas Cantu, Paul Rudd, Post Malone, Rose Byrne, Seth Rogen, Shamon Brown Jnr, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem, The Popcorn Conspiracy Radio Show, USA

Summary: The film follows the Turtle brothers as they work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates: 7th September 2023 (Australia), 24th August 2023 (Thailand), 31st July 2023 (UK), 1st September 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA, Japan, Canada

Director: Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears

Screenwriter: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit

Cast: Micah Abbey (Donatello (voice)), Michael Badalucco (Bad Bernie (voice)), Shamon Brown Jnr. (Michelangelo (voice)), Hannibal Buress (Genghis Frog (voice)), Rose Byrne (Leatherhead (voice)), Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo (voice)), John Cena (Rocksteady (voice)), Jackie Chan (Splinter (voice)), Natasha Demetriou (Wingnut (voice)), Ayo Edebiri (April O’Neill (voice)), Giancarlo Esposito (Baxter Stockman (voice)), David Faustino (Normal Nate (voice)), Ice Cube (Superfly (voice)), Brady Noon (Raphael (voice)), Myra Owyang (Short Sharon (voice)), Dempsey Pappion (Bald Bronson (voice)), Post Malone (Ray Fillet (voice)), Seth Rogen (Bebop (voice)), Paul Rudd (Mondo Gecko (voice)), Maya Rudolph (Cynthia Ultrom (voice)),

Running Time: 99 mins

Classification: PG (Australia), G (Thailand), PG (UK), PG (USA)

OUR TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM REVIEWS

David Griffiths, Harley Woods, Kyle McGrath and Lee Griffiths’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review

David’s rating Out Of 5

Harley’s rating Out Of 5

Kyle’s rating Out Of 5

Lee’s rating Out Of 5

Alex First’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem review

There’s action and humour aplenty in this animated adventure, which tracks how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came to be and how they won favour.

Scientist Baxter Stockman’s (the voice of Giancarlo Esposito) lair is raided.

He is killed, but he has already “grown” some terrifying creatures.

Among the “monsters” he has also “given birth” to four cute, bright green slime affected turtles.

They are brought up by a father figure, large rat Splinter (Jackie Chan), who warns them not to venture into the human world because it is such a dangerous place.

He urges them to stay in the sewers that they call home.

Only, as the years pass, Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu) and Raphael (Brady Noon) become more curious.

Fifteen years on and one day while out getting groceries the turtles can’t help but watch the adoration on an outdoor movie screen for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

It is a lovely scene where a clip of Ferris Buller’s Day Off is woven into the animated screenplay that is the mainstay of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

The turtles crave interaction and positive recognition from humans.

Ignoring their father’s overtures, they venture out again and into the middle of a firestorm embracing New York City, which is facing an army of mutants.

The latter are led by the evil and menacing Superfly (Ice Cube), who is looking to destroy mankind.

In trouble, the turtles are given a sympathetic ear by wannabe reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), who has her own issues at school.

Intent of finding a way to stop Superfly from carrying out his nefarious plan, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have their work cut out for them.

A five-strong writing team that includes Seth Rogen gives us the turtle’s origin story and first grand adventure.

It is colourful and entertaining, with laughs to satisfy both younger and older audiences.

Of course, the storyline is largely predictable (the Ninja Turtles must come out as winners), but that is not without some hijinks and scrapes along the way.

I appreciated the ragtag bunch of ugly critters that make up Superfly’s mutant “army”.

The turtles are teenagers simply spreading their wings.

The way Splinter is realised made him a particular fancy of mine.

He may be big and ugly, but he is also protective (his heart is in the right place, even if he is overly cautious).

April O’Neil brings no shortage of get up and go to the fore. She is ambitious and refuses to let previous obstacles stand in her way.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem marks a reboot of the franchise, with the ending suggesting more to come. Remember to stay on as the credits roll.

Alexs rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

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