Nobody could have predicted the resounding positive feedback Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is currently receiving just a few days shy of its official theatrical release. The celebrated franchise has been ingrained in pop culture since the 1980s, with its film adaptations from the '90s still being cherished by fans. Despite its continued success throughout history, the films have not exactly been known to be a huge hit with critics, that is, until now. The latest reboot of the franchise will leave fans shell shocked after learning the film is sitting at an impressive 97% on Rotten Tomatoes with 35 verified critic reviews at the time of writing.
Jeff Rowe is stepping into the spotlight as a feature director for the very first time with the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem following his co-direction on 2021's The Mitchells vs. the Machines. Joining forces with him is the pairing of creative partners Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg who tackle producing duties along with co-writing the screenplay. The film has received overwhelming praise from critics thus far, who adore its innovative animation style, likening it to this year’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and nostalgic humor, making it a delightful experience for audiences of all ages.
Here is what the critics are saying about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
MovieWeb: Mutant Mayhem is a “spectacular origin story” featuring a “refreshing take” on these iconic characters.
Julian Roman of MovieWeb praised the updated take on the long-standing franchise referring to it as being “unequivocally the best origin story to date”:
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has heart, a lot of humor, and spectacular action that builds like a tidal wave. The characters, especially Splinter, are likable and endearing. They resonate with individuality. Turtle fans across the board are going to love this film.”
The Independent: The film “blends a hyper-aware but affectionate love of the franchise’s past with the look and lingo of the present.”
Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent enjoyed the film’s animation style, stating it “learnt all the right lessons from the current Spider-Verse craze.” She harkens back to the visual language of Rowe’s previous directorial effort in The Mitchells which "had already adopted the Spider-Verse 'computer animation as hand-drawn concept art' ethos." She also compliments the film's ability to craft a narrative that fully embraces its identity, skillfully elevating the material by being aware of its strengths and leveraging them to the fullest extent:
“It’s hardly revolutionary stuff, but Mutant Mayhem’s script never pretends otherwise. All it knows is that these sorts of movies need just a smattering of sincerity and humanity to soar. And, for a franchise that’s never had the best track record on the big screen, it’s exactly the makeover the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles needed.”
GamesRadar: Despite how well-known the Turtles are, Mutant Mayhem “makes you feel like you’re meeting these characters for the first time” which ultimately leaves you “wanting to spend much more time in their company.”
Matt Maytum of GamesRadar adored the relationship between the four young Turtles, stating they are “a blast to be around, and their outsider status also adds to the relatable teenage aspect.” He further praised an immersive fight sequence in the film featuring a beloved ‘90s jam:
“Beyond the arresting visuals, the set pieces zing too, particularly one fight scene set to Blackstreet’s No Diggity. Despite seemingly being set in the present (smartphones!), it harks back to the era of the Turtles’ peak, and the 90s needle drops are no less effective for being obvious. There’s a crunchiness to the action – in part down to the masked quartet’s signature weapons – that occasionally induces winces.”
Empire: A “surprisingly authentic take on the outsider experience.”
John Nugent of Empire states a remarkable achievement of the film lies in its ability to remain “as fresh as it does” even though it is the seventh installment featuring these characters. This speaks volumes about the film's enduring appeal and captivating storytelling:
“It’s that adolescent experience that keeps this latest entry feeling more alive and engaging than it has any right to. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, co-writers of the script and avowed fans of this franchise, are no strangers to teenage coming-of-age stories, and as well as sprinkling some of their witty, self-aware comedy into the mix — there are knowing nods to the strangeness of the turtles’ origin story — this adolescent outsider tale feels of a piece with Superbad or Blockers.”
The Daily Beast: The “clever animation” does not “make up for a juvenile script that is confusingly unfun.”
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast did not share the sentiments expressed by his critic counterparts. Although he does commend the film’s “unique aesthetic”, it ultimately is “a wholly CGI affair that looks like it’s been hand-crafted, its surfaces… embellished with bold and scribbled lines.” He concludes by stating there wasn’t much offered in the film save for a few typical Turtle references:
“[There] isn’t a single inspired line to be found in the film; instead, it expends most of its energy on routine nods to the Turtles’ love of pizza, a single utterance of their catchphrase “Cowabunga,” and repeated jokes about the quartet’s fear of being milked by humans… Despite a surplus of commotion, Mutant Mayhem feels remarkably small, thanks to an adventure that takes place in a confined geographic space and a conflict that begins and ends in swift, simplistic fashion.”
The Hollywood Reporter: This “hugely entertaining” take on the Turtles seems “destined to reinvigorate the franchise and attract plenty of nostalgic adults as well as young fans.”
Frank Scheck of THR thoroughly enjoyed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, particularly the stellar voice cast which includes four actual teenagers portraying the young reptilian brothers:
“The dialogue proves consistently amusing (not surprising considering Rogen’s participation), and 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. The celebrity performers seem to be having a blast as well; when [Superfly] delivers dialogue quoting lyrics from the classic O’Jays song ‘Backstabbers,’ it’s hard not [to] imagine Ice Cube grinning in the recording booth.”
Deadline: Mutant Mayhem has “lots of heart” and is “the best TMNT movie yet.”
Pete Hammond of Deadline concurred with the sentiment expressed by his THR peer, lauding the young actors for their outstanding performances in their respective voice roles. Hammond further declared the film to be the best entry in the iconic franchise thus far:
“Fans will not be disappointed with any of the decisions here, notably the scattershot animation that feels rough around the edges, stylish, visually surprising and satisfying and anti-CGI blandness... I found this version of the Turtles to be irresistible, each one very specifically and distinctly drawn and voiced with excellent work from the young actors.”
After spending years in seclusion from the human world, four Turtle brothers embark on a mission to gain acceptance as regular teenagers among the citizens of New York City, proving their heroism. With the invaluable support of their newfound ally, April O'Neil, they set out to unravel the secrets of a mysterious crime syndicate. However, their quest takes a dangerous turn as they find themselves facing an onslaught of mutant adversaries.
The four Turtles are voiced by Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo and Brady Noon as Raphael. Other cast members include Jackie Chan as Splinter, John Cena as Rocksteady, Ice Cube as Superfly and Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil. Hannibal Buress, Ross Byrne, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Paul Rudd, and Maya Rudolph round out the voice cast.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem will be released in theaters on August 2, 2023.