Between comic books, cartoons, movies, video games, and even stage musicals, there are tons of versions of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The latest take on the Turtles is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and is the seventh film in the franchise to be released theatrically. Does this latest entry in the expansive TMNT library live up to its predecessors, or should it have been shredded in the editing room? Let’s dive into every sewer-surfing detail to find out.

Light spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem are ahead.

The Good

The most noticeable element of the movie initially is its animation style, which is nothing short of spectacular. The animators were clearly inspired by the style used in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but took it in their own direction. The result is a visual treat that perfectly captures the tone of the film. The attention to detail on the characters and in the backgrounds also futhers how good and unique this movie looks.

The action throughout the film is positively thrilling. The martial arts-heavy fight sequences offer tons of fun, and there’s an especially exhilarating car chase scene. Each of the Turtles and their iconic ninja weapons gets time to shine, which is quite nice. One of the elements that allows the action to stand out here is that there’s a bit of development with it. The first fight scene shows the Turtles as unsure of themselves and making a lot of mistakes. They essentially win by accident. This win, though, makes them more confident with themselves and their fighting ability, which is seen with how well they fight later on. It’s a subtle and brilliant detail to add to the already-exciting action.

In true TMNT fashion, the humor is top-notch. The Turtles have some fun immature humor without it ever feeling too dumb. There’s witty banter and fast-paced slapstick. Quite a few one-liners lead to some big laughs throughout. There are also a few instances of gross-out humor which might not be for everyone, but it was handled quite well and offered a hardy laugh for those who do enjoy it. 

It’s not all just fun action and humor, though. This movie is filled with big heart as well. There are quite a few scenes that make the audience truly care about the characters. Seeing how much Splinter cares about his sons or how much the Turtles look out for each other leads to some rather emotional moments. Even Bebop and Rocksteady look out for each other.

What truly escalates this emotion, though, are the messages throughout the story. Much of the plot is about acceptance. At times, we all feel like outcasts who just want to feel accepted by others, which can lead to pain, but it’s self acceptance that is much more important. This film conveys that message and those feelings perfectly. Another message the movie offers is to do the right thing, even if others don’t notice or recognize it. It’s important to do the right things for the right reasons, like helping those who may be strangers or who may be different from us. This film encourages doing things to help others and the world around us in the most incredible of ways. There’s also a message for parents not to be too overbearing on their kids and to be trusting of them, which is just as nice. It’s also worth noting that none of these messages trample over each other.

Several characters receive excellent development, and it all feels satisfying as these arcs come full circle. Seeing these characters grow is quite rewarding, and none of these arcs distract from any of the others. The Turtles, April, Splinter, and even some of the other mutants grow during the story, leading to even more well-crafted emotional moments.

Tying all this together is the masterful and organic dialogue. Every line is written and delivered as if it’s by real people, real teeangers, talking to each other. Getting real teenagers to voice the Turtles this time around absolutely worked in the movie’s favor, because it makes everything feel that much more real. Their banter, references, thoughts, and ideas all felt like things teeagers would say.

The Bad

There are some side characters, like Genghis Frog, who get so little screen time and so few lines that the audience doesn’t get a sense of their personality. Most side characters are able to at least make their general personalities known, but not all of them. It’s not a huge deal, but it does make one wonder why they were included in the first place.

Instead of Splinter being a master martial artist or trained by one, he and the Turtles learn martial arts from YouTube videos and training DVDs. It’s funny, but how much can these videos actually teach someone to be perfect martial arts fighting machines? Another nitpick, but it’s still noticeable.

Conclusion

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is something special for both long time TMNT fans and newcomers alike. It’s a terrific coming of age story for the modern age that any generation can relate to. It makes some changes to the TMNT lore, but it all works for this version of the world. The animation is excellent, the fast-paced action is exciting, and the dialogue feels real. This may be the best TMNT movie ever thanks to its perfect blend of heart, humor, and emotion.

Rating: 10/10