Here’s what critics are saying about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem:
“The best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film yet!” – Zach Pope, Zach Pope Reviews
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem skillfully finds a way to balance heart, action, and comedy in a mind-blowingly gorgeous animation presentation that instantly places it head and shoulders above all other Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films to date.” – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
“This CGI-animated effort is the most engaging version I’ve encountered thus far, which bodes well for those who haven’t grown up as TMNT lovers.” – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
“I have to say I found this version of the Turtles to be irresistible.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
“It couldn’t be more different from the darker vibe and photorealistic textures seen in the Turtles’ last two theatrical outings.” – Peter Debruge, Variety
“Just when you thought Teenage Mutant Ninja Turltes: Mutant Mayhem couldn’t get any better, it does, with some both surprising but very satisfying story choices in the third act that makes the film stand out even more from all the other Turtles stories you’ve seen before.” – Germain Lussier, io9.com
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
“Rowe’s film marks the first time in the Turtles’ long and storied history that the young heroes have been voiced by actual teenagers… a clever touch that adds real dimensions and emotion to a story, again, about mutant teenage crime-fighters.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire
“Losing some of the bulk and imposing look of some of the past creations of this foursome, they are all truly believable as excited teens looking to find their way in a world they are just beginning to experience.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
“The turtles and other mutant animals look cute again.” – Fred Topel, United Press International
“Setting this version apart, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem features a Splinter who is not the sage-like sensei of past incarnations, but a fussy, overprotective dad, traumatized by his interactions with humans.” – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“These are turtles who grew up with social media, creating memes, and watching twerking videos on TikTok. There are a handful of scenes that made me feel old and out of touch.” – Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire
“If you grew up on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon show from the ’80s, worshipped the live-action movies from the ’90s, or still could chant the chorus of Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ninja Rap,’ then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is for you.” – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“They have delivered exactly what you might hope they would, a fiendishly clever, funny, but appropriately faithful take on a brand.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
“You feel passion and respect for the franchise bursting off-screen. The movie has confidence in its audience to embrace a few new ideas as well as the tried and true ones.” – Germain Lussier, io9.com
“It’s a great introduction for new younger audiences, and at the same time hits older fans with a comforting wave of nostalgia. Even more so, the film leaves plenty of room for the franchise to grow.” – Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire
“Mutant Mayhem handles Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Easter eggs much more subtly than many nostalgic movies… For longtime fans who recognize them, they generate genuine surprise.” – Fred Topel, United Press International
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
“Ice Cube steals the entire movie, droppin’ braggadocio verses on the Turtles as he beats them up.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
“The casting of Ice Cube is brilliant. He is absolutely dynamic whether Superfly is dropping familiar rap lyrics, hyping up his hybrid siblings, or preaching human annihilation.” – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“The fact that the young actors voicing the TMNTs were actually teenagers when they recorded their performances infuses a welcome youthful energy to the goings-on.” – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
“Similar in look to the Spider-Verse animated films and resembling underground comics in its deliberately rough-hewn character and background designs… vibrantly distinctive visuals that perfectly suit the rambunctious and frequently violent proceedings.” – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
“The scattershot animation feels rough around the edges, stylish, anti-CGI blandness, and visually surprising and satisfying.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
“This style brings texture and personality into every frame of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, reminding audiences that there are far more interesting things that can be done with computer animation beyond the bland accuracy of photorealism.” – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“A rough sketch hand-drawn aesthetic to match the griminess of New York City. The imaginary camera moves with stimulating purpose through 3D space to immerse you in the action set pieces and the world these mutant characters occupy in an exhilarating way.” – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
“The action and animation are all top-notch… You’ll be blown away by what’s on screen.” – Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire
“The animation takes some getting used to. The kinetic, exaggerated style has some figures looking deformed, but it all comes together and gives the Turtles a fresh, energetic look.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
“Is [there] a lot of plot? Yes. Is the movie a bit of a mad jumble because of it? Also, yes. But with ‘mayhem’ in the title, what more do you expect?” – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“The Turtles have an actual arc… The Turtles’ understanding of themselves becomes a rich story thread the movie pulls on, along with the journey of self-discovery.” – Germain Lussier, io9.com
“Eventually, the film settles into predictable plotting, but that doesn’t detract much from its otherwise giddy, witty vibe.” – Kate Erbland, IndieWire
“The storytelling is sloppy.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
“It feels like there’s a variation on this script that takes as many risks as the visuals do instead of going predictably from point A to point B in the coming-of-age playbook.” – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
“Unexpectedly funny.” – Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
“The dialogue proves consistently amusing (not surprising considering Rogen’s participation).” – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
“Some of the pop culture references might not age as well as this film deserves, but they’re hilarious for now.” – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
“While the tone and some of the jokes are geared towards people in Rogen’s age range, and thus suits people like me, some of it may fly over the heads of younger children.” – Travis Hopson, Punch Drunk Critics
“Kids will love the bombastic humor.” – Kristy Puchko, Mashable
“As expected, the humor is skewed toward a younger audience… Not all the humor lands.” – Matt Rodriguez, Shakefire
“The fact that there’s no potty humor should be taken as a minor victory.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
“I’m pretty sure you could ask ChatGPT to write a TMNT script in the style of Seth Rogen and get something just as funny.” – Peter Debruge, Variety
“One of the best 1990s/2000s soundtracks in years.” – Germain Lussier, io9.com
“There’s so much to appreciate here, such as the film’s dynamic score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, or the needle drops, which aren’t just delightful picks on their own, but integrated into the action with thought and care.” – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
“It also has lots of heart.” – Pete Hammond, Deadline Hollywood Daily
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
“A quibble is that Rowe, Rogen, et al skate around the refined humanist mystery of their names… a shame. Perhaps the sequel can take us to the Uffizi in Florence.” – Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
“Considering Rogen’s participation as both a writer and actor, it’s surprising that Mutant Mayhem plays it so safe.” – Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
“The mixture of teenage coming-of-age and gloomy mutant brawl doesn’t vibe all that well.” – Jimmy Cage, Jimmy Cage Movie Reviews
“If anything feels out of sync, it’s the way in which life in the year 2023 doesn’t immediately integrate with aspects of the original premise.” – Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence
“Unfortunately, there might be one mutant too many in this expansive roster.” – Evan Valentine, ComicBook.com
“Most damagingly, as ridiculous as this may sound, we really don’t learn enough about the turtles, who are reduced to one or two traits as they’re pushed along the action track of the movie.” – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
“In a year that’s already given us unforgettable animation with films like Nimona, Elemental, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is right up there. It’s a near-perfect movie.” – Germain Lussier, io9.com
“One of the year’s best-animated feature films.” – Matt Neglia, Next Best Picture
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opens in theaters everywhere on August 2, 2023.
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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a pretty consistent part of the pop culture landscape since Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s scrappy self-published comic became a sensation in the mid-1980s, spawning an iconic animated series and a popular toy line. In the years since, that initial spark of creativity has inspired several distinct animated universes, two live-action film series, a bevy of toys, multiple video games, mountains of comics, and at least one rock music tour.
With all of that in mind, we’re getting a brand new version of the plucky amphibian heroes in the form of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which looks to stoke the fires of 1980s nostalgia and introduce the Turtles to a new generation. If the previews released so far are anything to go by, the film appears to strike the right chords for older TMNT fans while also appealing to their children and – in some cases – grandchildren. Let’s head to the sewers and dredge up everything we know about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
Starting afresh – as opposed to continuing one of the existing film or TV continuities – the film sees the Turtles, after years of seclusion and training, making their way to the surface in the hopes of being embraced by humanity. Befriending April O’Neil (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), the team takes on a reclusive crime syndicate to keep the streets and sewers safe. And, maybe, they’ll find the acceptance they crave along the way.
Some fans may notice the absence of certain details – notably the Foot Clan and the ever-present Turtles nemesis Shredder – but the presence of characters like Bebop (Seth Rogen) and Rocksteady (John Cena) suggests those TMNT staples will appear in due course. See also: Baxter Stockman (Giancarlo Esposito), who often appears in Turtles stories as a press-ganged scientist aiding the Foot in the creation of their own mutants. Although, just as often, he willingly helps as it furthers his own aims and research in mutation.
And, as it happens, other mutants will quickly become a cause of concern for the Turtles. Will they be friends or foes? Considering the film is subtitled Mutant Mayhem, expect that question to drive some of the action.
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
Naturally enough, the Turtles inhabit New York. But judging from our first glimpses at the film, it is a stylized New York one might expect Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse‘s Miles Morales to visit. Indeed, the art direction was one of the big appeals for long-time fans when a teaser first arrived in March. Distinct from previous iterations of the Turtles, it also feels like a natural path for the comic book-inspired film.
Beyond that, the swift introduction of alien worlds (and aliens) in the original Eastman and Laird comics and the first animated series means there is always room for the Turtles to visit locations less grounded than Manhattan.
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
Eschewing the typical pattern for the Turtles voice cast – or even long-time voice actors like Rob Paulsen, Townsend Coleman, or Greg Cipes – the film will feature four actual teenagers in the lead roles. The Walking Dead: World Beyond‘s Nicolas Cantu leads as Leonardo, the most dedicated of Master Splinter’s pupils to their training and goals. Micah Abbey lends his voice to generally tech-smart Donatello. Brady Noon of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers brings the attitude as a new Raphael, while Shamon Brown Jr. parties it up as Michelangelo.
Of course, we’re assuming the personalities of the Turtles will remain intact in Mutant Mayhem, but as seen in the teaser trailer, casting a group of young men leads to a noticeably different interpretation of the characters – vocally, at least. Additionally, the group recorded their dialogue together, offering a chance for more improvisation and a greater sense of camaraderie, which we clearly see in the scene of the Turtles goofing off in the teaser.
Beyond the four leads, the film is outfitted with a surprising number of familiar names – many of them playing surprising character pulls from Turtles history. Starting with the most recognizable characters, The Bear‘s Ayo Edebiri lends her voice to this version of April O’Neil. The character has had many permutations over the years, from TV anchor to budding reporter to straight-up ninja, so anything is possible with Edebiri and her take on the Turtles’ most constant friend. Jackie Chan takes on the role of Master Splinter, the boys’ sensei and adoptive father.
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
As mentioned above, the recognizable bad guys include Bebop and Rocksteady, voiced by Seth Rogen and John Cena, respectively, and Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman. Will the latter end up a fly by the end of the film? Time will tell.
Paul Rudd offers his talents as Mondo Gecko, the radical skateboarding lizard who has been part of TMNT lore since 1989. Rose Byrne plays Leatherhead, a mutant alligator who has been both friend and foe to the Turtles over the years. Post Malone voices Ray Fillet, a character who first appeared in the Archie Comics Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures series as “Man-Ray” but soon made his way to the action figure aisles under his subsequent moniker. Hannibal Buress becomes Genghis Frog, one of the original toy line’s attempts at beating imitators to the punch with a group known as the Punk Frogs. Natasia Demetriou takes on Wingnut, a humanoid bat who is sometimes an alien, a mutant, a would-be superhero, or a terrorist, depending on the era and series. Maya Rudolph is Cynthia Utrom – a character who might seem new for the film, but with a last name that fans will certainly recognize and that suggests something very specific about who she might truly be.
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
And finally, Ice Cube is Superfly, a new addition to the group of mutants to be featured in the film, who is revealed to be the primary villain in the latest trailer. Taking a page out of X-Men nemesis Magneto’s playbook, Superfly asserts that humans will never accept mutants like him and his cohorts, so he’s out to conquer mankind and put mutants in charge. Bebop, Rocksteady, and the others accordingly appear to be on his side.
While all the other mutants certainly pull at the nostalgia strings, the new direction in casting the Turtles voices may be the key thing that opens the characters up to a new generation of fans.
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
The film is the directorial debut of Jeff Rowe, co-director of The Mitchells vs The Machines – which he also wrote – and a staff writer on Gravity Falls and Disenchantment. Joining him as co-director is Kyler Spears, who also worked on Mitchells as a storyboard artist; considering their past collaboration, it’s no surprise that Mutant Mayhem feels like the next step in the evolution of the visual style we saw in Mitchells. Rowe also wrote Mutant Mayhem in conjunction with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit.
According to Rogen, part of the intent is to lean into the “Teenage” aspect of the title more heavily than in past iterations, citing movies like Stand By Me as inspiration. Based on the teaser, it definitely appears his intent made it to the finished product.
Rogen and Goldberg serve as producers with Josh Fagen and Ramsay McBean as executive producers. Other crew include procution designer Yashar Kassai, character designer James A. Castillo, production supervisor Derek Manzella, and post-production supervisor Ryan Price.
(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opens on August 2, 2023. It’s unclear if the intent is to launch a new wave of TMNT movies, but if the film is a success, it’s likely that fans will have plenty more to be excited for in the future of the franchise.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opens in theaters on August 2, 2023. Tickets are on sale now.
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The latest entry in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise hits theaters this weekend, aimed squarely at younger audiences, but with Michael Bay’s fingerprints all over it, how family-friendly is it, really? Read on for Christy’s thoughts on that, as well as a few new choices on DVD.
NEW IN THEATERS
Rating: PG-13, for sci-fi action violence.
The follow-up to the 2014, live-action incarnation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is, shockingly, an improvement. The action sequences have some real verve (and actual coherence) to them, and the humor isn’t quite as cringe-inducing. This time, the four crime-fighting turtle brothers – Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo – must stop the dreaded Shredder and his Foot Clan from teaming up with an alien enemy who’s hell-bent on world domination. Or something. That means plenty of massive chase sequences, car crashes, exploding vehicles, ninja battles and general destruction. There’s also a bit of language and some slightly suggestive content involving Megan Fox in a naughty schoolgirl outfit. I brought my 6 ½-year-old son with me to see it — nothing freaked him out, and I found nothing objectionable in it for him. But if you feel uncomfortable with your kids seeing this kind of CGI spectacle, it’s probably best suited for viewers around 10 and older.
NEW ON DVD
Rating: PG-13, for thematic elements and language.
Tweens and older will probably be fine watching this earnest, well-intentioned biopic about prolific Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens. Stephan James stars as the legendary track and field athlete who was part of the controversial decision by the American team to compete in the Nazi-run 1936 Summer Games. Given the time period and the racially charged setting, you can expect lots of language and slurs, which may be uncomfortable for young viewers to hear — but it also may provide a teaching moment about history and racial struggles. (The title is a double entendre.) The film features Jews being forced onto transport vehicles and having their businesses vandalized. It also includes some sexual humor and shows Owens cheating on the mother of his child. But there are also many worthwhile themes here for kids to learn about and discuss, including perseverance, courage, and understanding.
Rating: PG-13, for zombie violence and action, and brief suggestive material.
This time, the Bennet sisters aren’t just preoccupied with finding husbands — they’re fighting to stay alive. Because Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, like the genre-blending, best-selling novel it’s based on, is essentially Pride and Prejudice… with zombies. So that means this version of the Jane Austen classic is a whole lot more violent, filled with shootings, stabbings, beheadings, bloody faces, and smashed skulls as the undead stumble and mumble their way through 19th century England in search of brains. Many of the classic exchanges between Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) and Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) take place either while they’re battling each other or teaming up to fight off a zombie attack. But the effects in writer-director Burr Steers’ film are often so poorly staged, shot, and edited, it’s difficult to tell what’s happening. I’d steer your kids toward a different cinematic take on Pride and Prejudice – the 2005 version starring Keira Knightley, for example — but if they’re insistent on seeing this one, it’s probably OK for mature tweens and older.
Rating: PG-13, for fantasy violence and action, and some sexuality.
Not that I’d recommend seeing this with your family, but if you have to for whatever reason, it’s probably OK for mature tweens and older. Gods of Egypt is just a crazy, cheesy, over-the-top mish-mosh of history, mythology, and sci-fi fantasy. It’s basically about Egyptian gods (played by actors who are either Scottish, Australian, or Danish) turning into giant, metallic flying creatures that battle each other in the sky. There’s a ton of carnage and destruction, all of which is rendered in hilariously terrible special effects. One character gets his eyes plucked out of his face. Another takes a lengthy trip to the underworld, where some fellow travelers find themselves graphically obliterated if they don’t have anything valuable to secure their passage to eternal peace. There’s also a brief sex scene with partial nudity between Gerard Butler’s character, the power-hungry Set, and his mistress. This is super-violent and overlong but also just bad. Bad in a fun way quite often, but still — bad.
RT Senior Editor Grae Drake hit the red carpet to talk to the cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Will Arnett, Tyler Perry, Stephen Amell, Gary Anthony Williams, Stephen Farrelly, Brian Tee, Pete Ploszek, Jeremy Howard, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Tony Shalhoub), as well as producer Michael Bay, about how they would pimp out their personal garbage trucks, why everyone loves the Turtles, what they would like their dormant animal genes to be, and what fans can expect from the movie.
This week at the movies, we’ve got turtle power (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, starring Megan Fox and Will Arnett), a tear-jerking love story (Me Before You, starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin), and a pop music satire (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, starring Andy Samberg and Imogen Poots). What do the critics have to say?
Beloved by middle schoolers the world over, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have yet to power their way into the hearts of movie critics, who say that while their latest big screen outing, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, holds a slight edge over its 2014 predecessor, it’s still too noisy and juvenile to satisfy. The plot is the usual silliness — the evil Shredder is bent on world domination, and the Turtles must stop him — but pre-teens and nostalgic TMNT die-hards are unlikely to mind. The pundits say Out of the Shadows occasionally works as a cartoonish slam-bang popcorn flick, but mostly, it’s a relentlessly juvenile time-waster.
Films about beautiful people falling in love on their way to a weepy ending are essentially critic-proof — just ask Nicholas Sparks — so it’s hard to imagine anyone involved with Me Before You worrying too much about how critics are reacting to their adaptation of the Jojo Moyes bestseller. For what it’s worth, many reviews note the strong work delivered by — and solid chemistry between — stars Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin; it’s just that, as far as a good number of pundits are concerned, the movie doesn’t do a good enough job of handling its sensitive subject, and too often succumbs to sentimentality rather than treating its love story with the clear-eyed dignity it deserves. Still, if you’re looking for a tissue-worthy summer romance, you could do (and probably have done) a heck of a lot worse.
You really can’t make a rock mockumentary without being compared to Spinal Tap — and those comparisons, more often than not, turn out to be unfavorable. So if nothing else, Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island partners Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone would have earned points for moxie for even making an attempt to brave the genre with their feature-length debut, this weekend’s Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. Happily for the comedy trio, critics say the film lives up to its title by lobbing a constant volley of often hilarious barbs at the modern mainstream pop scene and 21st century celebrity in general — and even if it can’t help but lose a little momentum after a sidesplitting first half, the end result stands as another solid entry in the SNL vets’ budding filmography.
A powerfully impressive — and still relevant — update on a television classic, Roots boasts remarkable performances, deep emotion, and occasionally jarring beauty.
The Dresser brilliantly showcases two of the most gifted actors of their generation within a thoughtful, well-executed production offering intelligent commentary on the human condition.
Despite impressive performances and attractive cinematography, Bloodline‘s second season fails to recapture its predecessor’s dramatic intrigue.
Also Opening This Week In Limited Release
