Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
For the perpetual teenager in all of us
27 Aug 2023 
Michael Walsh Since 1984, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have kicked butt, eaten pizza and shouted cowabunga. Starting out in comic books, there have now been four animated TV shows, three live-action films in the 1990s, an animated film reboot in 2007, and a duology of live-action/CGI hybrid films produced by Michael Bay.
Now the four turtle brothers: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael, return to the big screen in a new animated offering from “perpetual teenager Seth Rogen”. After years of being sheltered from the human world by their adoptive rat father Splinter (Jackie Chan), the Turtle brothers (Micah Abbey as Donatello; Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo; Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo; Brady Noon as Raphael) set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers. Their new friend, April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate. Still, they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them, led by Superfly (Ice Cube).
Youthful, energetic, and earnest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a terrifically fun time with engaging animated visuals, a slick action-packed story, and an ensemble of likeable, loveable, and lackadaisical teenage mutants. Many will enjoy the current animated renaissance that we live through with amazing new animation styles that blend 2D and 3D aesthetics. From Spider-Verse’s comic book look, to Puss in Boots’ fairy tale illustration, to the stop-motion blend of The LEGO Movie, to the cartoon adaptations of Charlie Brown & Snoopy, and Captain Underpants. Mutant Mayhem seeks to emulate the classic sketchbook style that can be found drawn within kids’ notebooks or etched on top of school desks. And as such, it should appeal to all ages. It delivers hearty laughs, genuine heart, and a fair amount of teenage immaturity to balance it all out. The writers do well to balance the juvenile humour with some more tasteful jokes, but even the gross-out jokes are never taken too far, and the restraint is appreciated. It never belittles the turtles for being teenagers, but instead seeks to accurately depict what a bunch of teenage brothers would do, how they’d act, and what their dreams and desires would be. It also aims to explore the human response to that which is different. The turtles want to be welcomed, included, and able to live amongst humans, but there is great fear and experience of rejection. It’s a well-balanced story – equally funny, as it is heartfelt, as it is action-packed! The voice cast delivers on all areas, especially the titular teens, who feel natural and real. Many will likely enjoy trying to pick which celebrities have leant their voices to the various mutants who appear throughout the film.
Overall, the film is a fast-paced, frenetic, exciting, and fun film! Nothing will make you wanna eat pizza more than this!
Reel Dialogue: The human desire to feel accepted and included
Some may argue that the heart of the human condition is the drive to be liked and accepted. Within TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, this isn’t merely limited to humanity, but to the cavalcade of mutants who wish to be accepted and able to engage in the world. For Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael, and April O’Neil, their teenage desires to be cool, included, and admired resonate with the eternal teenager in all of us. We too desire deeply to be welcomed, included, and valued. However, the turtles live in a world, not unlike our own, where prejudice, bullying, and the fear of that which is different abound.
As a result, the turtles have to work hard to change public perception and be accepted. For the Christian in today’s cultural climate, we can feel like outsiders, labelled by some as dangerous monsters who need to be contained. The Bible provides us with much comfort and assures us that we are not of this world, and if we desire to be accepted, we will compromise on the truths of the Gospel. The Bible also teaches us that we are to be loving and accepting of those differences. We are not to be xenophobic, racist, or reject that which is different. We are to love those maligned by society, as Christ did when he ate with outcasts and sinners.
Bible References
Deuteronomy 10:19 “Therefore love the foreigner; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.”
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