As I write this I am 41 years old and have been a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles since the 80s! This is something that I have never grown out of and it is probably the franchise I collect for more than any other. Toys, comic books, and even an arcade machine are all in my TMNT collection.
How to Download Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and check the current availability. The film had its premiere in the USA on August 2, 2023, and you can expect it to be available for download about two months later. If you like the film, check out also our reviews of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016), and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022).
The Movie Review
So far there has not really been an incarnation of the Ninja Turtles that I have disliked even in the 90s, Next Mutation was something I was able to get a little bit of enjoyment out of. Still, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was taking things in a new direction, Seth Rogan as the writer and Jeff Rowe as the director was a combo that I was very excited about.
A New Take on the Turtles
This is a different version of the Ninja Turtles and their own thing. The Turtles as usual are living in New York with their father Splinter. Splinter forbids them from going up and mixing with the humans, but the guys find the allure way too strong. One of the things that I love about this movie is the Turtles themselves.
Unique Personalities
They feel more “teen” like here than in any other incarnation. I also feel like they did a great job of making each Turtle feel like themselves, but also a little different to fit this new story. Leonardo is still the straight-faced leader, Raph is the hot head, Donnie is the smart one, and Mikey….. Mikey if I am being honest was probably the one Turtle that did not click for me as much as the rest, which kind of sucks as he is my favorite Turtle.
The Plot Unfolds
There were moments where he was like my Mikey, most notably his bro off with Mondo Gecko which was awesome. However, I felt like Mikey being the party dude was toned down more here. Anyway, back to the plot. The Turtles eventually meet April O’ Neal and she agrees to help them make videos of them fighting crime so they can be accepted by the humans.
Villains and Twists
It is here the Turtles discover that the criminal kingpin that they are trying to take down, Super Fly is actually a mutant fly and he has a mutant family! Super Fly is such an awesome villain and I liked that they created a new villain for this movie. He is voiced by Ice Cube and I got a real kick out of him pretty much just being Ice Cube.
A Cast of Mutants
We have a great assortment of other mutants in this movie and they each had a kind of new spin on them. Bebop and Rocksteady are still big meathead brutes, but they lack the nasty and mean streak they are known for having. I am hoping that we see these guys develop more in the sequel.
Fresh Takes on Classic Characters
Leatherhead, Ray Fillet, Genghis the Frog, and more all had a somewhat new spin on their character and I thought this was really fun. Despite so much “new” being in the movie, there is a ton of fan service here for older fans too.
Surprises and Tone
Speaking of “older fans” I was surprised by the tone of the movie, this is not just for kids, there is a lot of violent fighting and even some of the jokes I am sure want way over the kid’s heads. Another thing that may have gone over the kids’ heads is the soundtrack. I was not sure what kind of soundtrack I was expecting going into this movie, but it was not the epic 90s-inspired one we got! This is one of the best soundtracks of the year for me and I hope that it gets a physical release.
Final Verdict
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is awesome. This more than lived up to the hype and I am having a hard time picking if this or The Super Mario Bros. Movie is my favorite animated movie of the year. This was awesome from start to end and I cannot wait for the sequel, make sure you watch the mid-credits scene! However, despite my fanboying all over this movie, my wife he had to be dragged to see this said she felt it was just “ok”, what does she know? She never grew up with Turtle Power running through her veins!
