new ninja turtle movie reviews

• Tickets & Showtimes
• Trending on RT

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem First Reviews: Clever, Visually Distinct, and Irresistible

Critics say the latest iteration of the heroes in a half shell is a lively, faithful adaptation that should thrill longtime fans and easily earn new ones..

TAGGED AS: Animation , comic book movies , movies

Here’s what critics are saying about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem :

How does  Mutant Mayhem  compare to other Ninja Turtles movies?

“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)

Does it change the characters?

“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

Will longtime TMNT fans enjoy it?

“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

Are there any standouts in the voice cast?

“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

How is the animation?

“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

What about the plot?

“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

Is it funny?

“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

What else does the movie have going for it?

“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

Any major criticisms?

“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

Could it be one of the best movies of the year?

“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.

On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.

Related News

Weekend Box Office Results: Godzilla x Kong Holds Strong

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

TV Premiere Dates 2024

Free Movies Online: 100 Fresh Movies to Watch Online For Free

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

April 8, 2024

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

Top Headlines

• Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now –
• 25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming –
• 30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming –
• Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch –
• Box Office 2024: Top 10 Movies of the Year –
• Best TV Shows of 2024: Best New Series to Watch Now –

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem.

Now streaming on:

As the leads in Jeff Rowe ’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” spoke with all the momentum of my kids when they have a bottle of Prime—it’s a new energy drink for those out of the loop—I thought about the difference between fast-paced and hyperactive when it comes to this kind of movie. “ Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse ” and its incredible sequel are undeniably fast-paced, but the momentum is right for the material. “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” co-written by this film’s director, also packs so much into its runtime that it’s impossible to catch it all on first viewing. Those films are fast because they’re fueled by so much creativity that you can see their ideas bursting off the screen. “Mutant Mayhem” is fast because it thinks it should be. There’s a difference. Using its hyperactive nature to disguise how there’s not much going on, “Mutant Mayhem” is a pretty shallow venture thematically. Having said that, it also has undeniably strong visuals and enough creative voice work to make it tolerable on a hot August day when families need an air-conditioned theater for a few hours. I wish the mayhem of it all led somewhere more rewarding.

Yes, it’s another origin story. Despite being the seventh film to feature these characters, Rowe and co-writers Dan Hernandez , Benji Samit , Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg go back to the beginning of the TMNT saga, opening with a scientist named Baxter Stockman ( Giancarlo Esposito ) creating the infamous ooze that turns ordinary creatures into mutants. When the authorities break into Baxter’s basement lair, the ooze is spilled into the sewers, and the rest is comic book history as a quartet of turtles becomes fast-talking humanoid creatures named Donatello ( Micah Abbey ), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo ( Nicolas Cantu ), and Raphael ( Brady Noon ).

Fans of the franchise know that the turtles are nothing without their leader, Splinter ( Jackie Chan ), a rat who was also transformed by the ooze and became the father to the teenage mutants after teaching them the ninja skills to protect themselves. Splinter is extremely overprotective, ordering the boys to stay away from human beings at all costs or risk being milked by them (don't ask). A flashback reveals that Splinter tried to introduce himself and the turtles to the humans, but they were somewhat understandably terrified. Now they all live underground, as the turtles sneak out to get supplies and wish they could have a normal teenage life beyond the sewers.

Meanwhile, one of Baxter’s experiments responds very differently to the chasm between the human race and the mutants now living underground. Whereas Splinter wants to hide, Superfly ( Ice Cube ) wants something closer to vengeance. He’s assembled a group of mutants that include Genghis Frog ( Hannibal Buress ), Leatherhead ( Rose Byrne ), Rocksteady ( John Cena ), Wingnut ( Natasia Demetriou ), Ray Fillet ( Post Malone ), Bebop (Seth Rogen), and Mondo Gecko ( Paul Rudd ). Throw in Maya Rudolph as a mysterious figure trying to find the turtles and Ayo Edebiri as April, the human being who befriends the turtles and tries to introduce them to the above-ground world, and you have a stellar voice cast. Once Superfly and his cadre of creatures join the action, “Mutant Mayhem” gets exponentially more fun as each great actor is allowed fun voice beats to shine.

The visuals of “Mutant Mayhem” also explode when Superfly and his gang join in the fun as the animators bring their A-game to creative character designs that recall the source material but also pop on the big screen. The entire film has that “Spider-Verse” aesthetic that looks like a comic book come to life. The characters can go from simple animation that looks hand-drawn to something more like stop-motion animation and then back again in a manner that keeps the film visually engaging.

I just wish those visuals got more depth from their characters and story beats. "Mutant Mayhem" is ultimately a coming-of-age film, the story of four teenagers who discover a reality they want to live in between Splinter’s overprotectiveness and Superfly’s anger. While that’s an interesting theme, and it’s nice to see a version of this franchise take the word “teenage” seriously, it’s also pretty light for kids and their parents who can handle more complex themes. 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. 

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. De facto leader Leonardo is the most responsible of the crew and develops a crush on April. The other three barely even get that much development. Of course, not everything can be “Mitchells” or “Spider-Verse,” but those films grounded pieces of the coming-of-age genre even as they raced through their stories. Maybe it's a product of my age or lack of energy drink intake, but “Mutant Mayhem” too often just feels hyper.

In theatres on August 2 nd .

Brian Tallerico

Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.

Now playing

Little Wing

Marya e. gates.

Simon Abrams

Remembering Gene Wilder

Matt zoller seitz.

American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders

Kaiya Shunyata

Film credits.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo (voice)

Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo (voice)

Micah Abbey as Donatello (voice)

Brady Noon as Raphael (voice)

Jackie Chan as Splinter (voice)

Ayo Edebiri as April O'Neil (voice)

Ice Cube as Superfly (voice)

Seth Rogen as Bebop (voice)

John Cena as Rocksteady (voice)

Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko (voice)

Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut (voice)

Rose Byrne as Leatherhead (voice)

• Dan Hernandez
• Benji Samit
• Evan Goldberg
• Kevin Eastman
• Peter Laird
• Brendan O'Brien
• James Weaver

Original Music Composer

• Trent Reznor
• Atticus Ross

Latest blog posts

The Scene That Clint Eastwood Cut to Make Unforgiven a Classic

Ape Shall Not Kill Ape: A Look at the Entire Apes Franchise

​Criterion Celebrates the Films That Forever Shifted Our Perception of Kristen Stewart​

The Estate of George Carlin Destroys AI George Carlin in Victory for Copyright Protection (and Basic Decency)

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• The First Omen Link to The First Omen
• The Beast Link to The Beast

New TV Tonight

• Chucky: Season 3
• Mr Bates vs The Post Office: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Franklin: Season 1
• Dora: Season 1
• Good Times: Season 1
• Beacon 23: Season 2

Most Popular TV on RT

• Ripley: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• The Gentlemen: Season 1
• Palm Royale: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Ripley Link to Ripley
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Weekend Box Office Results: Godzilla x Kong Holds Strong

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

• Trending on RT
• Play Movie Trivia

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

2023, Kids & family/Comedy, 1h 39m

What to know

Critics Consensus

With its unique visual style and a story that captures the essence of the franchise's appeal, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated treat for the whole family. Read critic reviews

Audience Says

With fantastic visuals, an excellent voice cast, and lots of laughs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem might be the best film in the franchise. Read audience reviews

You might also like

Where to watch teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem.

Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem with a subscription on Paramount+, Prime Video, rent on Vudu, Apple TV, or buy on Vudu, Apple TV.

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)

You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified..

AMCTheatres.com or AMC App New

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

Theater box office or somewhere else

By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

Teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem videos, teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem   photos.

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers. Their new friend, April O'Neil, helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Rating: PG (Language|Impolite Material|Sequences of Violence & Action)

Genre: Kids & family, Comedy, Adventure, Animation

Original Language: English

Director: Jeff Rowe

Producer: Seth Rogen , Evan Goldberg , James Weaver

Writer: Seth Rogen , Evan Goldberg , Jeff Rowe , Dan Hernandez , Benji Samit

Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 2023  wide

Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2023

Box Office (Gross USA): $118.4M

Runtime: 1h 39m

Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Production Co: Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Point Grey, Mikros Animation, Image Comics

Sound Mix: DTS, Dolby Digital, Dolby Atmos

Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1

View the collection: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Cast & Crew

Micah Abbey

Donatello Voice

Shamon Brown Jr.

Michelangelo Voice

Hannibal Buress

Genghis Frog Voice

Leatherhead Voice

Nicolas Cantu

Leonardo Voice

Rocksteady Voice

Jackie Chan

Splinter Voice

Superfly Voice

Natasia Demetriou

Wingnut Voice

Ayo Edebiri

April O'Neil Voice

Giancarlo Esposito

Baxter Stockman Voice

Post Malone

Ray Fillet Voice

Raphael Voice

Bebop Voice

Mondo Gecko Voice

Maya Rudolph

Cynthia Utrom Voice

Kyler Spears

Co-Director

Screenwriter

Evan Goldberg

Dan Hernandez

Benji Samit

James Weaver

Brice Garnier

Executive Producer

Ramsay McBean

Cinematographer

Greg Levitan

Film Editing

Trent Reznor

Original Music

Atticus Ross

Yashar Kassai

Production Design

Arthur Fong

Art Director

News & Interviews for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Rotten Tomatoes Predicts the 2024 Oscar Nominations

Rotten Tomatoes Predicts the 2024 Golden Globe Nominations

Weekend Box Office Results: Barbie Joins the $1 Billion Club

Critic Reviews for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Audience reviews for teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem.

There are no featured audience reviews for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem at this time.

Movie & TV guides

Play Daily Tomato Movie Trivia

Discover What to Watch

Rotten Tomatoes Podcasts

Review: Funny and vibrant, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ is an easy shell

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

As box office analysts have noted with equal parts glee and alarm, it hasn’t been the hottest summer for the big film franchises. “Fast X” flailed. “The Flash” fizzled. The latest adventures of Indiana Jones and the Impossible Missions Force performed less stratospherically than expected. Meanwhile, the extraordinary commercial success and cultural staying power of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have been greeted by many as a rare triumph for non-franchise-based storytelling, as well as a pointed referendum on Hollywood’s sequel/reboot overload: Give us originality, or give us depth!

Yet there are always exceptions, contradictions and assorted what-aboutisms: We can argue about how much “Barbie,” a smart, interesting movie that was made to sell toys and surely will mint a franchise of its own, qualifies as original. And this week sees the arrival of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” an unexpectedly delightful challenge to the critic’s reflexive antifranchise mentality.

Nimbly directed by Jeff Rowe ( “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” ) from a funny, perceptive script he wrote with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, this rambunctious action-comedy gives nostalgia-stoking, action-figure-selling, comic-book-derived franchise relaunches a good name. To say that it’s the best Ninja Turtles movie I’ve ever seen is both perfectly accurate and arguably faint praise, given how many cowa-bungled mediocrities this aging franchise has spat out over the past 33 years — and I say that as someone with fond childhood memories of the 1990 live-action “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” with its endearingly rubbery Jim Henson turtle costumes, grotty-looking sewer sets and “Hey dude, this is no cartoon” tagline.

Which Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle are you? Take our personality quiz

Aug. 4, 2023

“Mutant Mayhem” joyously embraces its cartoonishness, if that’s the word for Rowe’s ripped-from-the-pages-of-a-kid’s-heavily-doodled-notebook aesthetic. There’s poetry in this imperfection: Unlike the artificially smoothed, computer-animated turtles of “TMNT” (2007) or their motion-captured equivalents in the Michael Bay-produced “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (2014), these latest incarnations of Leonardo (voiced by Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) and Donatello (Micah Abbey) spring to gloriously sketchy, smudgy pop-art life from their first frame. And they lurk, leap and soar across a neon-streaked New York City that, for all its digital rendering, feels as fresh and hand-crafted as a made-to-order Brooklyn pizza.

Sustenance, pizza and otherwise, is of course never far from the turtles’ minds. Their first mission here — to fulfill a lengthy grocery list (and check off a product placement or two) — will require great stealth and cunning, since it’s important that they go unseen by human eyes. They are overgrown humanoid turtles, after all, thanks to a lab-engineered green ooze that contaminated their stretch of sewer 15 years earlier. They’re also teenagers, which only exacerbates their frustration at being lifelong outcasts, something they feel acutely when they sneak into an outdoor screening of that teen-liberation classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” More than most “Ninja Turtles” stories, in other words, this one emphasizes its foursome’s youthfulness, their merciless rib-rib banter, their pop-culture savvy (Michelangelo likes Beyoncé) and, above all, their eagerness to fit into a world that fears and rejects them on sight.

The film’s coming-of-age bent is unsurprising, given Rogen and Goldberg’s involvement (they’re also credited as producers), though anyone hoping for a terrapin-themed “Superbad” is out of luck. Rather than raunching up its material (aside from some impressive vomit gags), “Mutant Mayhem” has been wittily conceived as a comedy of alienation and assimilation. Splinter, the stern mutant rat who raised the turtles, trained them in martial arts and taught them that “humans are the demon scum of the earth,” is basically every overprotective immigrant father in rodent form. (It helps that he’s voiced with unadulterated Cantonese-dad energy by Jackie Chan.)

The turtles’ individual gifts and personalities haven’t changed — Leo is still the responsible leader, Raph the courageous hothead, Mikey the lovable goofball and Donnie the brains of the outfit — but a poignant longing for acceptance unites them all. It’s that longing that first plants the idea of superheroics in their bandanna-wrapped heads, propelling them into an enjoyably nonsensical plot involving a shady scientific institute and a mutant-critter crime wave. As the turtles race around the city trying to save the day, backed by hip-hop jams and a propulsive Trent Reznor–Atticus Ross score, they join forces with April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), a plucky high school journalist who, in this telling, is almost as much of a misfit as they are.

That speaks to the warmly inclusive spirit of “Mutant Mayhem,” which, while not as exhilaratingly free-form as the recent “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” uses its own mercurial visual style to suggest new worlds of representational possibility. And in ways that bring the “X-Men” series (among other properties) to mind, it turns the condition of mutantdom into an effective metaphor for the Other. If that insight verges on obvious by now, the movie nonetheless wears its politics lightly, rarely scoring points with an overworked speech when it can go with a light laugh, a kinetic car chase or a dynamically staged action scene instead.

It’s telling that some of the story’s funniest, sweetest moments involve the turtles’ ostensible enemies. Initially disturbing but ultimately disarming, they’re a motley mutant menagerie voiced by actors including Rogen (warthog), Paul Rudd (gecko), Rose Byrne (alligator), Natasia Demetriou (bat) and John Cena (black rhino). Their leader is the aptly named Superfly (a fearsome Ice Cube), who plays a key role in the movie’s climax — a wonderfully grotesque but coherently mapped-out sequence that tips its hat to Godzilla, David Cronenberg and, finally, the we’re-all-in-this-together spirit of New York itself.

Whether it cries out for a sequel is debatable. But I wouldn’t mind seeing if this latest cycle of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” turns out to be not just a reboot but a renaissance.

'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem'

Rating: PG, for sequences of violence and action, language and impolite material Running time: 1 hour, 39 minutes Playing: Starts Aug. 4 in general release

More to Read

Review: At least the cast is having fun in the overstuffed ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’

March 21, 2024

Review: An onslaught of retro-styled slapstick, ‘Hundreds of Beavers’ is mania from heaven

March 15, 2024

Review: Despite starring a possessed stuffed animal, the dull ‘Imaginary’ is close to unbearable

March 7, 2024

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Justin Chang was a film critic for the Los Angeles Times from 2016 to 2024. He is the author of the book “FilmCraft: Editing” and serves as chair of the National Society of Film Critics and secretary of the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Entertainment & Arts

Jonathan Majors avoids jail time in assault of ex-girlfriend, must attend domestic violence program

April 8, 2024

The 50 best Hollywood books of all time

Review: ‘The First Omen’ plays to the faithful, but more nun fun is to be had elsewhere

April 5, 2024

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher have split after 13 years of marriage, three kids

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Pop Culture Happy Hour

• Performing Arts
• Pop Culture

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles return, rebooted and reinvigorated, for 'Mutant Mayhem'

Stephen Thompson

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a fun and visually striking animated feature directed by Jeff Rowe. Paramount Pictures hide caption

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a fun and visually striking animated feature directed by Jeff Rowe.

Rebooting a superhero origin story is a bit like serving up a prequel: We already have the gist of how we got here, so there'd better be a good story to tell along the way.

That's doubly true when the superheroes in question were already known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a name that does a fair bit of narrative heavy lifting on its own. Any time spent showing how our heroes got to be mutants, ninjas, teenagers or turtles is likely to be time wasted, especially when they're on their seventh theatrically released movie, which is saying nothing of all the TV shows, toys and reams of comic books fans have experienced along the way.

Movie Reviews

Old shells, new 'turtles': tinkering with the insides of a famous franchise.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem , a fun and visually striking animated feature directed by Jeff Rowe (who worked on 2021's fantastic The Mitchells vs. the Machines ) and written by a committee that includes Seth Rogen, offers a full franchise reboot. Which means that too much of its early going gets dedicated to retelling the Turtles' origin story: There's a dastardly corporation that does genetic testing, a rogue scientist who steals the "ooze" that turns creatures into mutants, some misplaced ooze that slips into the sewers, and the four baby turtles who cross its path.

Soon, as the title of every TMNT project suggests, we catch up with them as teenagers Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) and Raphael (Brady Noon). They've been raised by a worrywart mutant rat named Splinter (Jackie Chan), whose fretful-adoptive-father vibe should feel familiar to fans of the mighty Kung Fu Panda trilogy. Splinter raises the Turtles in a New York City sewer, teaches them self-defense and forbids them — with good reason — from interacting with the human world. But these are teenagers, and what they want more than anything is to be embraced by humankind. They dream of high school as they sneak into outdoor movie screenings and otherwise gaze wistfully at humans as they go about their lives.

Mikey, Donnie, Leo and Raph in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Paramount Pictures. hide caption

Mikey, Donnie, Leo and Raph in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Soon, the Turtles' sewer-bound existence is upended when they encounter a high-schooler named April O'Neil (Ayo Edebiri from The Bear ), whom they unwittingly distract as a thief steals her moped. So they give chase, wind up in a lair full of criminals, use a whole bunch of those martial-arts skills and, ultimately, out themselves to April as, well, teenage mutant ninja turtles. They also wake up to a possible gateway to humanity's embrace: They could become superheroes, and possibly even save New York City from the pesky supervillain who's been stealing parts to build a massive bioweapon. (Isn't that always the way?)

That aforementioned supervillain would be Superfly (Ice Cube), a giant mutant housefly with a good point (humanity kinda sucks ... ), a bad plan ( ... so let's unleash a weapon to destroy and/or enslave them) and an army of mutant-animal sidekicks. These include TMNT staples such as Rocksteady (a rhino voiced by John Cena) and Bebop (a warthog voiced by Seth Rogen), among many others. But when our Turtle heroes confront the various villains, they face a fork in the road: Do they join up with bad guys who offer them a sense of mutant community (as seen in a funny bit of bonding at a bowling alley), or help out humans who'd break out the pitchforks if they so much as knew that teenage mutant ninja turtles existed?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Illustrator Starts Drawing Off The Page, And On Bodies

Once the world-building and scene-setting are out of the way — and it really does take longer than it should — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem fully takes flight. April O'Neil has taken many forms over the lifespan of the franchise (including a stretch in the Michael Bay reboots where she's played by Megan Fox), but she's smartly conceived here as a plucky high-schooler and aspiring journalist who's got her own journey to worry about. The Turtles themselves, voiced by actual teenagers, are similarly re-envisioned from their early incarnations as fratty catchphrase factories. And it can't be overstated how much juice Ice Cube gives Superfly, as a sort of mutant-housefly variation on Killmonger in the first Black Panther movie: He makes a meal of every line, as anyone who's heard him rap might expect.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem doesn't entirely hit its stride until it shifts into third-act resolution mode — an inversion of so many superhero origin stories, which can become rote as stuff gets flung into buildings — but it's consistently buoyed by its inventive and playful animation. Director Jeff Rowe has talked about a desire to make the film look like it was made by teenagers — to evoke youthful passion and intensity — and he pulls it off, making a film that's always visually in motion. At times, it resembles a kind of hand-drawn claymation; at other points, it evokes sketch books; collectively, it shares a fair bit of creative DNA with the Spider-Verse movies. The fight scenes feel particularly kinetic, thanks in part to a top-notch score (by Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross ) and needle drops that incorporate lots of '90s hip-hop (a smart touch given TMNT's place in that decade's history).

Whether or not Mutant Mayhem breaks through Barbenheimer 's sturdy hammerlock on the summer 2023 box office, it's sure to win over the franchise's fans. And if you've stayed away from TMNT over the years — whether because of "Cowabunga!" or " Ninja Rap " or Michael Bay or whatever — don't be afraid to break out your swords, shout something that sounds cool and leap back into the fray.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Review: 'Mutant Mayhem' is the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' movie we always dreamed of

Finally, a “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie that really earns a “Cowabunga!”

Since they became pop-culture touchstones in the late 1980s, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo – the pizza-loving youngsters, not the Renaissance artists – have starred in a mixed bag of movies and TV series. Particularly lackluster have been the live-action vehicles that have hit the big screen, from the bad 1990s films to the middling 2010s franchise .

Thankfully, the foursome is animated again but also enjoyably inspired, courtesy of the new action comedy “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (★★★ out of four; rated PG; in theaters now), produced and co-written by Seth Rogen . Director Jeff Rowe (“The Mitchells vs. the Machines”) smartly casts actual teenagers as the main characters, makes them pop via a super-cool comic-book visual style and surrounds these familiar heroes in a half shell with a top-notch supporting cast.

Best of all, it's the kind of zippy, 99-minute adventure bound to satisfy kids and adults alike in the cinematic doldrums of August.

Fifteen years after swimming in some experimental mutagen ooze as baby turtles, Mikey (Shamon Brown Jr.), Donnie (Micah Abbey), Raph (Brady Noon) and Leo (Nicolas Cantu) live in the sewers with overprotective rat dad Splinter (Jackie Chan). They’ve learned martial arts through old karate tapes and YouTube videos, but because he distrusts humans, Splinter forbids his adopted sons from going above ground unless they’re on a grocery run.

But the isolation, plus checking out the occasional drive-in movie (like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), leads the BTS-loving, kung fu-fighting turtles to dream of going to high school and being superheroes that the whole city will love. On one of their rare nights out, they meet aspiring teen journalist April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), who’s investigating a crime spree by the mysterious criminal Superfly that threatens her high school prom, and the turtles and April team up to help each other.

The turtles discover that Superfly is actually a mutated housefly (hilariously voiced by Ice Cube) and he runs with a gang of mutant animals. Our heroes' excitement that there are other folks like them in the world soon turns to dismay, however, when the youngsters discover the human-hating Superfly wants to unleash the ooze on a widespread scale and take over the world.

'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles': When does 'Mutant Mayhem' come out? Cast, trailer, what to know

“Mutant Mayhem” is pleasantly goofy, with secret conspiracies and a Godzilla-sized mutant monster terrorizing the Big Apple, and makes up for other forgettable “TMNT” incarnations by being clever with its humor and leaning into the mindset of adolescents. (What teen, turtle or human, doesn’t feel like an outsider or resent being kept from things by their parents?) But there’s a certain level of authenticity that the new movie taps into, much like the recent Tom Holland “Spider-Man” films, rather than being simply kid stuff.

And like the “Spider-Verse” movies, “Mayhem” embraces more stylized animation – reminiscent here of the original “Turtles” comics – that differentiates it from your average super-slick Pixar movie or even past “TMNT” projects. The look of the mutant animals is plenty spiffy, and Rowe went deep into the lore for his A-list voice crew: Rogen and John Cena play the duo of warthog Bebop and rhino Rocksteady, Rose Byrne is toothy Australian gator Leatherhead, Post Malone cameos as silky-singing manta Ray Fillet and Paul Rudd is the scene-stealing Mondo Gecko.

There is a strong nostalgia element with the turtles, considering they were akin to Batman and Superman for those who grew up in the 1980s and '90s. But chances are, most folks don’t know any of the actors voicing the main turtles, and that’s the special sauce in “Mutant Mayhem.” Comical Mikey, super-smart Donnie, hotheaded Raph and leader Leo exude an irrepressible youthfulness and playful spirit that appeal both to hardcore fans who grew up with the old movies (and that terrible Vanilla Ice song ) as well as the kids getting an intro thanks to the best "Turtles" outing in decades.

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ Review: These Heroes in a Half Shell Get a Fully Satisfying New Feature

Kate erbland, editorial director.

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

When the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were first introduced in 1984, comic book creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird set out to skewer the superhero stories then dominating the space ( sound familiar? ), piling on the parody (teenage…mutant…ninja…turtles?) and (oopsie!) crafting their own unexpected hit heroes in the process. Over the course of nearly four decades, those wily heroes have cycled through countless iterations, eventually becoming a favorite for kids (of all ages) and spawning their very own entertainment complex. So, has this all been done before? Thankfully, no.

The film’s dynamic animation style — both painterly and scribbly, heavy on the neon, vibrant and punchy, meant to look like the product of a free-wheeling sketchbook — will likely remind audiences of “The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” which Rowe previously wrote and has indicated is a major reference point for the look and feel of this film. That animation style also allows the film, rated PG “for sequences of violence and action, language and impolite material,” to get away with moments of surprising violence and genuine grotesquerie that would have likely landed a live-action version a pretty solid R. (No spoilers, but as the film’s big final battle started to unspool, the persistent thought of “this is kinda…gross?” kept running through my head.)

But Rowe and company soon smartly lean on story beats that feed the overall theme of the film, including the importance of acceptance and love in a seemingly cruel world, that help move it along to the present-day action. (And flashbacks that show off how loving mutant rat Splinter, voiced by Jackie Chan, came to find the charming baby turtles, forming an instant family, are absolutely adorable in a way this series has scarcely attempted.)

While Splinter has — understandably — spent much of his life in fear of humans, attempting to pass on his disgust and disdain to his sons, the message hasn’t quite stuck with them. Why? Well, it’s right there in their names: They’re teenagers, and these kids want nothing more than to be part of the human world, even its most basic and benign experiences. For Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo, there is nothing more appealing than their biggest wish: They just want to go to high school. But how can a foursome of mutant kiddos ever make their way among the human population?

Enter said “Mutant Mayhem.” The turtles are, of course, not the only mutants out there, a story the film’s opening sequence tries to fill in, with mixed results (it’s best not to think too deeply about the constraints and rules of this world, and when it comes to the evil corporation ostensibly behind their creation, just accept it as “evil corporation” and move on). Just as the turtle brothers are really jonesing to break free, they meet perhaps the world’s most charming human, budding high school reporter April O’Neil (voiced by rising star Ayo Edebiri). She’s hot on the trail of a wild crime syndicate that has plunged Manhattan (and that “evil corporation”!) into a state of mass hysteria, care of the many insane heists they are pulling off on the regular, stealing top-secret tools and machines with (clearly?) nefarious ends in mind.

Eventually, the film settles into predictable plotting, but that doesn’t detract much from its otherwise giddy, witty vibe, which has enough humor to keep everyone tittering. Some of the film’s many jokes seem primed for an older audience (a gag involving Natasha Bedingfield’s uplifting jam “Unwritten” will amuse kiddos for its gross-out elements, but the Millennials in the audience will really flip for its clever nod to the Emma Stone joint “Easy A”), and its occasional forays into self-reflexive bits (there’s a sequence centered on cardboard cutouts of three of Hollywood’s Big Four Chrises, which appear in “live-action” form, that’s delightful and weird) will likely go over little heads. But the heart of “Mutant Mayhem” is pure, and the look of it is sprightly and unique, making it a worthy new addition to a franchise that clearly still has new stories to tell.

Paramount Pictures will release “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” in theaters on Wednesday, August 2.

Most Popular

You may also like.

• Best Shows on Netflix
• Best Movies on Netflix
• F1 Live Stream
• Stranger Things Season 5
• Best New Movies
• Most Popular Movies on Netflix
• Best Shows on Disney+
• UFC Live Stream
• Best Movies on Disney+
• Entertainment

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem review: a charming reboot

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem breathes new life into the fan-favorite franchise.”

• An extremely likable voice cast
• An eye-catching, unique animation style
• A refreshingly laidback attitude throughout
• A third act that gets too explosive for its own good
• Several disorienting action sequences
• An unnecessarily saccharine ending

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem takes the “teenage” part of its title extremely seriously. The new film, an animated, Into the Spider-Verse -inspired take on its iconic franchise, is the first big-screen TMNT effort that actually embraces its characters’ adolescent angst. It’s a refreshingly laidback blockbuster, one that isn’t afraid to spend several sustained minutes lettings its half-shell heroes do nothing more than joke around and have fun together. Anyone who goes into Mutant Mayhem expecting a serious samurai film will be sorely disappointed.

That is, for the most part, a good thing. The film, which was produced and co-written by Seth Rogen, is an unpretentious teen comedy that only ever seems tangentially interested in its action elements. The result is an animated romp through a decidedly modern version of New York that doesn’t ever slice and dice as cleanly as some longtime fans may want but still makes it uniquely easy to fall in love with its charming underground world of mutants and teenage longing. It’s the most endearing screen adventure in the TMNT franchise’s history and, like this summer’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse , is the rare piece of IP-driven entertainment that doesn’t wear out its welcome.

There’s a forgivable “yadda yadda yadda” quality to the opening minutes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem . The film speeds through its clunky prologue, which re-establishes its heroes’ origin story, at such a manic pace that it isn’t long before its teenage turtles are running around on rooftops and watching outdoor movie screenings. Despite their similar senses of humor and shared immaturity, though, Mutant Mayhem effectively distinguishes and separates Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Donatello (Micah Abbey), and Raphael (Brady Noon) from each other without solely relying on the different colors of their respective headbands.

• 3 Netflix animated movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
• Is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem streaming?
• All the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies and TV shows, ranked

That’s thanks, in no small part, to the performances given by the film’s endlessly likable voice cast. Its four leads each bring their characters’ various eccentricities and neuroses to life with effortless humor and wit, and director Jeff Rowe surrounds them with actors who match and compliment their youthful energy. The Bear  star Ayo Edebiri makes a particularly lasting impression as April O’Neil, an aspiring journalist who ends up being the first human to befriend Mutant Mayhem ’s turtle heroes, while Paul Rudd steals more than a few scenes as Mondo Gecko, a skateboarding mutant who forms a quick friendship with Brown Jr.’s Michelangelo in the film’s second half. Other performers, like Jackie Chan and Rose Byrne, perfectly fit into their respective roles as Splinter and Leatherhead, respectively.

As charming as the movie’s supporting cast is, Mutant Mayhem never lets its focus wander too far away from its leads. In its engrossing, surprisingly melancholic first act, the film not only explores its heroes’ underground lives but also their collective yearning to go to school and be accepted by the humans that — at the stern instruction of Chan’s shut-in Splinter — they spend so much time hiding from. When Edibiri’s April tells them about New Yorkers’ growing fear of a mutant criminal known as Superfly (Ice Cube), Leo, Mikey, Donnie, and Raph decide to try to win over humanity’s affection by taking down Superfly with April’s help. In doing so, they eventually uncover Superfly’s plan to take over the Earth by turning every animal on the planet into humanoid mutants like them.

Mutant Mayhem loses itself a little in its third act when Superfly’s plan ends up reaching explosive heights that stand in stark contrast to the film’s otherwise scaled-down, lightly comedic tone and scope. Like a lot of contemporary blockbusters, the movie stretches its climactic set piece too far and tries to pack in too many character beats for its own good, most of which don’t land as well as those that occur throughout its first two acts. In any other movie, the missteps Mutant Mayhem makes in its final third might not be so apparent, but it’s a testament to how beautifully the film pulls off its quieter moments that so many of its loudest ones ultimately feel out of place.

The presence of Cynthia Utrom (Maya Rudolph), a paper-thin secondary villain, only makes the weaknesses of Mutant Mayhem ’s comic book storytelling elements all the more obvious. Her role in setting up the film’s inevitable sequel isn’t, however, nearly as frustrating or eye-roll-inducing as one might think. That’s due largely to how nonchalantly Mutant Mayhem handles its most comic book-y moments, all of which are unveiled so plainly that it’s impossible to take them too seriously. The film doesn’t feel the need to play up its many Easter eggs or references, which makes all of them considerably easier to swallow than they might have been otherwise.

It doesn’t hurt that Mutant Mayhem looks consistently stunning throughout its 99-minute runtime. While clearly indebted to the hand-drawn, comic book panel style of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , Mutant Mayhem looks unlike any other mainstream animated film that has been released in recent memory. The film embraces a rough, punk rock animation style that turns its version of New York City into an eye-catching collage of grimy paint streaks, untidy sketch lines, and neon clouds of light. At times, its characters feel perfectly at home in its artistic visual world. In other instances, they look like stop-motion figures that have been dropped into its realm of 3D digital animation. It’s one of the most visually distinct and dynamic films that moviegoers will likely see this year.

In its attempt to capture a real, modern teen spirit, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem doesn’t pull everything off with flying colors. The film’s third-act issues aside, its endless pop culture references are only partly successful (a nod to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off works beautifully, a minor detour centered around The Hulk’s role in Avengers: Endgame  less so). Its pitch-perfect cast and undeniably striking animation style prevent the film’s flaws from outweighing its successes, though. The movie is an infectiously funny coming-of-age adventure that, more than anything else, manages to make the prospect of spending more time with its turtle heroes a genuinely welcome one. It’s nice, isn’t it, when a blockbuster actually reminds you why anyone fell in love with its characters in the first place?

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is now playing in theaters.

Editors' Recommendations

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a huge disappointment
• 5 great comics to read before Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
• Like TMNT: Mutant Mayhem? Then watch these 5 movies that are just like it
• Where to watch all the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies and TV shows
• 5 movies you need to watch in August 2023
• Product Reviews

In the last four decades, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have had six movies. But the upcoming seventh film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, is the first movie to actually portray the TMNT as teenagers. Of course, this is a reboot, so forget everything you saw in the previous movies. In their latest incarnation, Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), and Raphael (Brady Noon) may have been raised by Master Splinter (Jackie Chan), but they're clearly obsessed with social media. It's all they know about being kids, and it's no longer enough for them to hide in the sewers.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | Official Trailer (2023 Movie) - Seth Rogen

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back in the first teaser trailer for the new animated movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The footage depicts the crimefighting turtles as teenagers trying to find their place in New York City.

Four young actors voice the four turtles: The Walking Dead: World Beyond's Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), Cousins for Life's Micah Abbey (Donatello), The Chi's Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo), and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers' Brady Noon (Raphael).

Murder mysteries with a sense of humor are back in vogue lately, with projects like Knives Out, Death on the Nile, and Only Murders in the Building enjoying success as their protagonists -- sometimes brilliant, sometimes bumbling -- navigate cases crowded with colorful suspects. Given all of that positive buzz, you don't need a trail of clues to deduce why Confess, Fletch is reintroducing audiences to Irwin "Fletch" Fletcher, novelist Gregory Mcdonald's snarky, crime-solving investigative journalist.

Directed by Greg Mottola (Superbad, Adventureland) from a script he co-wrote with Zev Borow, and based on Mcdonald's 1976 novel of the same name, Confess, Fletch casts Jon Hamm as the titular tenacious reporter, who finds himself embroiled in yet another murder while investigating an international art theft. Hamm takes over the role from Chevy Chase, who portrayed Fletcher in the 1985 film Fletch and its 1989 sequel, Fletch Lives.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

The Turtle brothers work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants. The Turtle brothers work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants. The Turtle brothers work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants.

• Kyler Spears
• Evan Goldberg
• Micah Abbey
• Shamon Brown Jr.
• Nicolas Cantu
• 424 User reviews
• 189 Critic reviews
• 74 Metascore
• 1 win & 68 nominations

• Michelangelo

• April O'Neil

• Cynthia Utrom

• Leatherhead

• Baxter Stockman

• Mondo Gecko

• (as Austin Post)

• Genghis Frog

• Times Square Guy
• (as MrBeast)

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Ninja Turtles and Their Seth Rogen Impressions

More like this.

Did you know

• Trivia Jeff Rowe wrote a letter to Jackie Chan requesting him to play Master Splinter.
• Goofs When Superfly is attacking the city near the end, he kicks a tanker truck, which flies through the air and explodes in the street. Moments later, the same truck is seen intact and undamaged.

Michelangelo : Thanks for ratting us out.

Master Splinter : Hey! Don't use that word that way.

• Crazy credits There is a scene in the closing credits: as the Turtles and April enjoy high school, Cynthia Utrom spies on them and decides to bring in the Shredder.
• Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: Your Daily Fails (2020)
• Soundtracks Ante Up (Robbin Hoodz Theory) (Radio Version) Written by Jamal Grinnage (as Gerard Jamal Grinnage), Billy Danze (as Eric Murray), and Darryl Pittman Performed by M.O.P. Courtesy of Columbia Records By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

User reviews 424

• ryanpersaud-59415
• Aug 23, 2023
• How long is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem? Powered by Alexa
• August 2, 2023 (United States)
• United States
• Ninja Rùa: Hỗn Loạn Tuổi Dậy Thì
• New York City, New York, USA (on location)
• Image Comics
• Mikros Animation
• Nickelodeon Animation Studios
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $70,000,000 (estimated)
• $118,613,586
• $28,007,544
• Aug 6, 2023
• $180,513,586

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 39 minutes
• Dolby Atmos
• Dolby Digital
• Dolby Surround 7.1
• 12-Track Digital Sound

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem review – gloriously anarchic reboot

With its refreshingly glitchy animation style and superb hip-hop soundtrack, the reptilian superheroes’s latest outing is a fizzing treat

P erhaps it’s the Spider-Verse effect, but mainstream animation for kids seems to be going through a period of rare visual creativity. The latest revamp of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, directed by Jeff Rowe, is a case in point. The story is a fairly generic origin tale-meets-mutant-apocalypse: the turtles are chafing against the overprotective love of their humanoid-rat father figure, Master Splinter (voiced by Jackie Chan), but have yet to find a way to win the approval of the human world. The animation style, however, is gloriously anarchic: a scratchy, glitchy, scrawling onslaught that has more in common with the Biro’d graffiti on a high school bathroom door than it does with the immaculate 3D realism that has, until recently, been the norm for big-budget animation.

There’s a pleasing messiness to it all, a sense of barely controlled chaos that is matched by the jostling, overlapping voice performances. The nostalgic 80s and 90s hip-hop soundtrack is sublime, and while the action sequences can be hard to follow, there’s no faulting the film’s fizzing energy.

• Animation in film
• The Observer
• Superhero movies
• Family films

Most viewed

to submit an obituary

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to [email protected] . There is no option to place them through our website. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.

General Information:

• Your full name,
• Address (City, State, Zip Code),
• Phone number,
• And an alternate phone number (if any)

Obituary Specification:

• Name of Deceased,
• Obituary Text,
• A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
• Ad Run dates
• There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply.
• If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information.

Verification of Death:

In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification.

Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours.

A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary.

Guestbook and Outside Websites:

We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter.

Obituary Process:

Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear.

Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines.

After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing.

Payment Procedure:

Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents.

Credit Card: Payment accepted by phone only due to PCI (Payment Card Industry) regulations

EFT: Check by phone. Please provide your routing number and account number.

• The minimum charge is $162 for the first 10 lines.
• Every line after the first 10 is $12.20.
• If the ad is under 10 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162.
• On a second run date, the lines are $8.20 per line, starting w/ the first line.
• For example: if first run date was 20 lines the cost would be $164.
• Each photo published is $125 per day.
• For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500.

Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested.

MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST

Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries.

HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS)

Please submit your memoriam ad to [email protected] or call 651-228-5280.

Entertainment | Movie review: ‘Mutant Mayhem’ a fresh,…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Submit to Stumbleupon (Opens in new window)

Today's Paper

• Movies & TV
• Food & Drink
• Treasure Hunt

Things to Do

Entertainment, subscriber only, entertainment | movie review: ‘mutant mayhem’ a fresh, authentic take on the ninja turtles.

Radioactive ooze generated the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and “Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse” has helped birth “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” the new animated feature about everyone’s favorite rambunctious, pizza-loving reptiles. Directors Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears showcase the turtles in a way we’ve never seen them before, utilizing a blend of 3D and 2D animation to create a unique, rough-hewn (on purpose) style that suggests children’s book illustrations blended with teenage sketchbooks.

That edgy look is paired with a script that’s funny and fresh, a soundtrack filled with classic New York hip-hop, and a stunning industrial score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

It’s clear that Rowe, Spears and writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (who also produced the film), Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit and Brendan O’Brien, have a deep love and nostalgia for these lovable ‘80s relics, who were ubiquitous in the childhoods of older millennials. These sewer-dwelling rapscallions, raised and trained by a rat named Splinter, were born on the pages of a comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. There were toys, a memorable Saturday morning cartoon, and three live-action movies back in the 1990s (who could forget the refrain sung by Vanilla Ice: “go ninja, go ninja, go!”). But the less said about the film adaptations in the 2010s, the better.

‘Mutant Mayhem’ is both a new direction for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and a return to the past, symbolically, locating the material in the land of teenage imagination, memory, nostalgia and emotion. The animation style doesn’t quite nod to comic books, but rather looks like a messy drawing that a fan might scribble in a notebook, with lopsided heads and visible drawing lines, as if done by crayon or pastel.

The color palette is dark with pops of neon, giving it an early ‘90s look. Sprinkled throughout are video clips that nod to the cultural touchstones of the creators: snippets of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” a salute to John Hughes, to whose vision of American high school the teen turtles cling, and instructional karate training videos, which is how Splinter (Jackie Chan) teaches his young turtle sons to defend themselves against the terrifying outside world.

The creators get back to basics with the story, focusing on the question of fathers and sons, mutants existing within humanity and the universal desire for acceptance. Splinter, a New York City street rat, is already inured to human rejection when he adopts the four adorable turtles covered in radioactive ooze. He raises them in a loving environment, away from the hustle and bustle (and malice) of the city, and Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Raphael (Brady Noon), and Michaelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), grow up in a tight-knit quartet, though they long to be part of the world.

On the other hand is supervillain Superfly (Ice Cube), a mutant who doesn’t hide from humanity, but harbors genocidal impulses toward the people who have deemed his and his mutant brethren unacceptable. He wants to make every creature on earth a mutant, tipping the balance of power away from the humans and toward the mutants, believing it the only way they’ll find their place in the world.

With the help of intrepid reporter April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), the turtles decide to stop Superfly in the hopes that if they’re seen as heroes, they’ll be celebrated and integrated into society in order to fulfill their dream of going to high school (they’re teenagers, they’ve got teenage dreams).

The themes are broad and universal but the writing is remarkable — the dialogue feels natural and authentic to the age group, and it’s filled with modern slang and references to pop culture, rap songs, anime, comedy and more. Their desire for community is a resonant message, but it’s expressed in layered dialogue that feels like the way real teens talk to each other, and it’s beautifully performed by the four actors voicing the turtles.

The filmmakers manage to balance the contemporary feel of the writing and innovative visual style with their own nostalgia for childhood cultural touchstones, which makes “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” a fascinating and highly entertaining blend of old and new.

‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’

3 1/2 stars (out of 4)

Running time: 1:39

MPA rating: PG (for violence and action, language and impolite material)

Where to watch: in theaters Wednesday

More in Entertainment

Review: ‘The First Omen’ is a prequel with style, plus borderline NC-17 body horror

‘Scoop’ review: Prince Andrew in the hot seat

Entertainment | St. Paul’s Grand Old Day set to return June 2, with headlining band Yam Haus, a parade and pro wrestling

Movies & TV | Review: Colin Farrell in Apple TV+ ‘Sugar,’ an LA story with a love-it-or-hate-it twist

Movies & TV | ‘Ripley’ review: A remake of ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ has a terrific performance at its center, but lacks heat

Entertainment | Kickoff to Summer at the Fair returns May 23-26

Movie reviews: 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem' takes a decades-old franchise and makes it feel contemporary

Teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem: 3 ½ stars.

When I first heard there was a new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie in the pipeline, I wondered, “Why?” From their beginnings as a superhero parody comic by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird to becoming a surprise cultural phenomenon, the anthropomorphic turtle brothers have been rebooted as a television show, toys and a bunch of movies.

The difference this time around is that “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” a new animated adventure now playing in theatres, captures the irreverent, rambunctious spirit of the comics that inspired it, without losing any of the heart that made turtle brothers— Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael—so beloved in the first place.

An origin story, the new movie is a coming of age for the resourceful Donatello (Micah Abbey), the charming Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr), the reliable Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu) and the brave Raphael (Brady Noon). Raised by a mutant rat named Splinter (Jackie Chan) in the sewers of New York, under the orders of their overprotective, adoptive father, they only visit the human world to gather supplies. Splinter does not trust humans, and fears for his son’s safety if they are exposed to the human world.

But the turtles are restless. They long to be accepted, to go to high school, to do the things they see human teenagers do on television and in movies.

“If we weren’t monsters, shunned by society, what would we do?”

On one of their clandestine visits to the city, they meet April O'Neil (Ayo Edebiri), an aspiring journalist who wants to tell their story.

“This is insane,” she says. “Turtles. Mutant. Karate. Teens. I want to know everything about you.”

Meanwhile, New York City is being terrorized by Superfly (Ice Cube), a mutant housefly with a plan to kill and capture all humans and turn all animals on Earth into mutants.

“Humans will be executed, enslaved, turned into food. Could be pets,” he says. “Any crazy thing you can think of, pitch it.”

Teaming with April, the turtles plan to take on Superfly and become heroes.

“We take out Superfly and then everyone will think we’re cool,” says Donatello. “They’ll accept us!”

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” has a loads of scrappy heroes-in-a-half-shell spirit. The gorgeous rough ‘n tumble animation is computer generated, but feels organic, like a mix of the hand-drawn aesthetic of Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and Gerald Scarfe. It’s vibrant, exciting and will give your eyes a workout.

The story isn’t quite as exciting. It won’t take you anywhere really new, superhero movie wise, but it does update the TMNT lore. The use of actual teenagers to voice the four turtle brothers brings youthful energy that also adds some oomph and even poignancy to their coming-of-age/outsiders storyline.

The real stars of the show are Edebiri, Chan and Ice Cube. No longer just a supporting character, Edebiri gives April three-dimensions, with foibles–sometimes her nerves get the best of her—and objectives that help guide the story. Chan is very funny, but also humanizes the rat with his overly protective fatherly concerns. Ice Cube brings a considerable amount of swagger to the megalomaniac Superfly, spitting out his lines with humour and some cartoony menace.

Seven feature films in, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” does something kind of remarkable. It takes a decades-old franchise and makes it feels contemporary with humour and heart while still providing a nostalgic blast for long-time fans.

MEG 2: THE TRENCH: 2 STARS

Five years ago “The Meg,” a prehistoric creature feature starring a CGI shark and underwater actionman Jason Statham, took a US$500 million bite out of the worldwide box office. This weekend, Ben Wheatley, a director best known for the arthouse, satirical thrills of movies like ”High Rise” and “Kill List,” dives in for the sequel, hoping to make a splash by reteaming Statham with a super shark. Question is, will “Meg 2: The Trench” be fin-tastic or does it jump the shark?

The fishy business centres on billionaire philanthropist Jiuming (Wu Jing) and eco-warrior Jonas Taylor (Statham). Jiuming owns an oceanographic institute, home to its own captive Meg, a nickname for a megalodon—think Bruce the Shark from “Jaws” on steroids—once thought to have been extinct for about two million years. Taylor is a former U.S. Marine whose steely gaze is rivalled only by the dead eyes of the Meg.

The unlikely pair lead a dangerous mission to an “ancient ecosystem untouched by man,” an oceanic trench 25,000 feet under the surface of the ocean. The mission goes sideways when an illegal mining operation sets off an explosion that creates a breach in the thermocline, trapping Jiuming, Jonas and crew six kilometres deep, surrounded by colossal, Megs and all manner of aggressive, primordial undersea creatures.

“Three massive Megs and who knows what else have escaped the breach!”

Midway through “Meg 2: The Trench” Statham rasps, “This ain’t good.” It’s a meta moment that feels like the actor has broken the fourth wall to comment on the movie. He isn’t of course. The movie isn’t clever enough to have that kind of built-in self-awareness.

But he’s not wrong.

From the reams of cliched dialogue seemingly borrowed from other, better action movies and half-hearted homages to “Jaws” and “Jurassic Park” to the rehash of Statham Stock Character #2—the man with a past who must protect a young, innocent child—and lame attempts to create a catchphrase (“See you later chum.”), “Meg 2: The Trench” doesn’t add up to much until it becomes a creature feature in its last half hour. Even then, the alleged giant octopus is left mostly to the viewer’s imagination and seen only as a tentacle or two sticking out of the water.

“Meg 2: The Trench” spends much of its runtime underwater, which makes sense, because for 95 per cent of its running time, it’s all wet.

SHORTCOMINGS: 3 ½ STARS

The anti-rom com “Shortcomings,” a new film directed by Randall “Fresh Off the Boat” Park and now playing in theatres, is brave enough to centre its story around an annoying twerp whose pretentiousness is matched only by his negativity and the ignorant remarks that fall so effortlessly from his lips.

Based on the 2007 graphic novel by Adrian Tomine (who wrote the script), Justin H. Min plays the antisocial Ben, a wannabe filmmaker and Berkeley arthouse theater manager. He has lots of personality, all of it bad. He says in school he was discriminated against, but not because he is Asian.

“It was because of your inherent bad personality,” says his BFF Alice (Sherry Cola).

“Exactly,” he says.

When his long-suffering girlfriend Miko (Ally Maki) accepts a temporary internship across the country in New York, he uses their “break” to selfishly dip his toe back into the dating pool. He pursues Autumn (Tavi Gevinson), a young performance artist who works at his theatre, and strikes up a relationship with Sasha (Debby Ryan), a friend of Alice who just broke up with her girlfriend.

When he realizes that he didn’t know what he had until it was gone, it’s may be too late. “Is this your rock bottom,” asks Alice. “High school was my rock bottom,” he replies unconvincingly.

“Shortcomings” does a great job of making, and keeping, its main character as toxic as possible. Director Park and Min make no attempt to shave down Ben’s rough edges, or make him more agreeable. But as unlikable as the self-loathing character is, he is compelling in his toxicity. Min is fearless in his portrayal of Ben’s foibles and flaws, and yet you feel empathy for him because he is so lost.

As Alice says, “change is hard for a**holes like us,” and it’s up in the air if Ben has it in him to put in the effort to embrace the change that will make his life better. It’s an unbending character you don’t normally find in movies with a romantic edge.

Clocking in at just under ninety minutes, Park’s economical film is stacked with ideas.

“Shortcomings” delivers laughs—Ben and Alice are a playful odd couple—and examines cultural expectations, but it really succeeds because of its uncompromising character study.

A COMPASSIONATE SPY: 3 ½ STARS

“A Compassionate Spy,” a new documentary from director Steve “Hoop Dreams” James, should work as a compelling companion piece for audiences in an Atomic Age state of mind after seeing “Oppenheimer.”

Like “Oppenheimer,” the documentary’s main character is a nuclear physicist. Ted Hall was an 18-year-old Harvard undergrad when he was brought on to help Robert Oppenheimer and his team create a bomb as part of the Manhattan Project in 1944.

Three years later he met, and courted Joan, a left-leaning undergrad at the University of Chicago. They connected quickly, but his marriage proposal came with a catch. He quietly told her that he didn’t share the jubilation felt by his scientist colleagues for their part in ushering in the Atomic Age.

Disgusted by the destructive power of the bomb he helped build, he attempted to level the playing field between super powers by leaking secrets to the Soviet Union. He felt if both countries had nuclear access the idea of mutually assured destruction would keep either from hitting the button.

(SIDENOTE: In “Oppenheimer” the Manhattan Project spy was reported to be German theoretical physicist Klaus Fuchs.)

Joan, who appears in the film, agrees to keep Ted’s secret, and does as they raise a family under a campaign of intimidation by the FBI, in a marriage that lasts more than 50 years. Using Joan’s words coupled with (sometimes overtly) dramatic recreations, archival footage and a tell-all, never-before-seen video, taped before Ted’s 1999 death, “A Compassionate Spy” details their life together and the lengths they went through to keep their secret.

Set to a soundtrack of Ted and Joan’s favorite music—Mahler, Mozart and Schumann—“A Compassionate Spy” is part family drama, part historical drama and part hagiography of a controversial and complex person. Like any good espionage story there are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, mostly told in first hand by people who were there. It’s the personal touch that elevates the story from historical and geopolitical tell-all to a different, and in many ways, more compelling story of intergenerational secrecy.

The political underpinnings of Hall’s actions are observed and commented on by historian Daniel Axelrod and physicist Michio Kaku, but the title gives away the filmmaker’s point of view. “A Compassionate Spy” is a forgiving look at Hall, painting him as a man who acted against zealous nationalism, not against his country.

“A Compassionate Spy” is a very compelling story knocked down a notch or two by an overuse of dramatizations. They don’t add much to the overall presentation, and often reduce the power of the interviews. Nonetheless, the story of one man who changed the world, for better and for worse, and why, is one worth telling.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

'Like magic': Total solar eclipse moves across parts of Canada, crowds in awe

Earth-bound audiences turned skyward as the sun moved directly behind the moon on Monday, plunging parts of Canada into the darkness of a total solar eclipse and a moment of shared celestial awe.

4 arrested in connection with murder of 22-year-old in Penticton, B.C.

Police investigating the 2021 murder of a man in Penticton, B.C., have arrested four people in connection with the case, including three who were youths at the time of the killing.

Canada's new 'Our North, Strong and Free' defence policy explained

Announced Monday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario, the spending is expected to total just over $8 billion over the next five years and $73 billion in the next two decades for new equipment and infrastructure, including improvements to Canadian air and sea fleets, communications technologies and services for military personnel.

Deportation hearing set for truck driver in deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash

A deportation hearing for the truck driver who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash six years ago has been scheduled for next month.

Alberta minor hockey volunteer charged with alleged sexual offences involving teenage boys

A volunteer with the Sundre Minor Hockey Association faces several charges related to an alleged sexual assault involving teenagers.

WATCH | Time-lapse video shows the solar eclipse across North America

Watch time-lapse video of the solar eclipse as it occurred from Mexico to Canada.

2 dead after daylight shooting in south Edmonton residential neighbourhood

Police are investigating a shooting in south Edmonton over the noon hour on Monday.

Killer Nathaniel Veltman appealing his conviction

Convicted of murdering a London, Ont. Muslim family with his pickup truck, Nathaniel Veltman, 23, has filed an Inmate Notice of Appeal with the court in an attempt to overturn the jury’s verdict.

Here are some highlights from the total solar eclipse in Ontario

Hundreds of people across Ontario looked up to the skies to view the total solar eclipse on Monday – a rare celestial event that will not return for another 120 years.

People across the Maritimes take time to observe historic eclipse

Chris Hadfield was one of thousands of people across the Maritimes who observed the celestial event, which won’t repeat in the region until 2079.

B.C. man sentenced for 'horrific, cowardly' beating death of 78-year-old man

A British Columbia man who burned down his father's home and then kicked to death a 78-year-old stranger on the main street of a quiet mountain town has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for what the judge described as 'a horrific, cowardly and senseless act of violence.'

Vatican's denouncement of gender-affirming surgery is harmful, LGBTQ2S+ advocates say

The Vatican's declaration that gender-affirming surgery and what it calls gender 'ideologies' violate human dignity is disappointing and 'deeply harmful,' LGBTQ2S+ rights advocates in Canada say.

Parts of southern Quebec have front-row seat for total solar eclipse

People gathered across southern Quebec Monday to get a rare view of a total solar eclipse. Parts of the province will have a front-row seat for the phenomenon, which occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking out sunlight for a brief period.

Iran's foreign minister accuses U.S. of giving Israel 'green light' to attack consulate in Syria

Iran's foreign minister Monday accused the United States of giving Israel the "green light" for a strike on its consulate building in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials including two generals.

Prosecutors urge U.S. Supreme Court to reject Trump's immunity claims in election subversion case

Special counsel Jack Smith's team urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday night to reject former president Donald Trump's claim that he is immune from prosecution in a case charging him with scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

The Security Council revives the Palestinian Authority's UN hopes. The U.S. says not yet

The UN Security Council on Monday revived the Palestinian Authority's hopes of joining the United Nations as a full member.

'Panama Papers' trial starts. 27 people charged in the worldwide money laundering case

The trial of 27 people charged in connection with the worldwide "Panama Papers" money laundering started Monday in a Panamanian criminal court.

The U.S. Army will hold combat training in the Philippines to hone skills as maritime tensions rise

The U.S. Army is introducing a joint battlefield training in the Philippines to improve combat readiness including by ensuring adequate supply of ammunition and other needs in difficult conditions in tropical jungles and on scattered islands, a U.S. general said.

Overcrowded ferry sinks off Mozambique's coast, leaving at least 98 dead, media reports say

A makeshift ferry overcrowded with residents reportedly fleeing a feared cholera outbreak capsized off Mozambique's northern coast, killing at least 98 people including children, local media said Monday.

MPs clad in eclipse glasses stare at 'surreal' celestial event on Parliament Hill

Not even the vital business of Parliament was enough to keep MPs from slipping outside to glimpse celestial history. Dozens of elected officials, including Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, gathered on the Hill to crane their necks skyward.

As Sudan crisis rages, resettlement stalled; groups urge Ottawa to do more to help

Canada has yet to reunite a single family with relatives who are trying to escape conflict-racked Sudan, while diaspora groups are demanding the federal government do more to end a yearlong civil war.

U.S. CDC says bird flu risk low, but asks states to be ready with rapid testing

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday bird flu risk to the public remains low even as it asked the state public health officials to be prepared to respond.

There's still no standard test to detect pancreatic cancer early. Scientists are working to change that

Finding pancreatic cancer early could help increase a patient’s chances of survival. Across the United States, research teams are investigating ways to spot early cases, with many turning to blood-based liquid biopsy tests.

5 tips for finding the best diet that works for you

With dieting, the conventional wisdom says a person needs to be in calorie-deficit mode to lose weight. If you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight; if you eat fewer calories, you lose weight.

What an eclipse sounds like -- and why it matters

People will be looking to the sky on Monday to witness a total solar eclipse. Others will be listening to it. And to Harvard University astronomers working to transform the rare sight into sound, the eclipse should create a symphony.

Why this year's eclipse is different from the last one in 2017

In addition to being a rare phenomenon, Monday's total solar eclipse is different than the last one visible from North America in 2017 for a few reasons.

Vancouver-based Hootsuite buys analytics firm Talkwalker as CEO foresees social media disruption

When Irina Novoselsky contemplates social media, she's certain the next decade won't be anything like the last because consumers increasingly allow the online world to shape nearly every aspect of their lives.

Entertainment

Beyonce makes history with 'Country Carter' hitting No. 1

Beyoncé may have proclaimed that her latest project "ain't a country album," but someone forgot to tell the charts that.

'Total Eclipse of the Heart' searches surge on Spotify

A Spotify representative told CNN that searches for Bonnie Tyler's song have soared by nearly 50 per cent in the U.S. over the past week.

Jelly Roll shares update after his jet's emergency landing

Country music star Jelly Roll has recovered from a flight scare over the weekend.

Doug Ford directs LCBO to go back to using single-use paper bags

Paper bags could soon return to the LCBO following a request from Ontario’s premier.

Trump's net worth has tumbled by US$2 billion since Truth Social stock peaked last month

The Truth Social owner dropped by another 8 per cent on Monday, adding to a brutal week that wiped out a third of the stock's value.

This hidden Eden in Mexico won't stay undiscovered forever

The remote landscapes of La Huasteca Potosina – part of the larger La Huasteca region spanning multiple states – include vast desert, lush mountains and rainforest nooks with turquoise rivers and waterfalls. And the attractions within remain unknown to most international travellers – for now, at least.

'You're the chef': Fast-food chains embrace menu hackers' creative combinations

Some are as simple as coating chicken nuggets in a blend of barbecue and ghost pepper sauces — nicknamed "cowboy caviar" — but others take things to a new level, like dropping pie or mini cinnamon sugar doughnuts into a milkshake or ensconcing a hotdog in onion rings.

LIVE UPDATES | Toronto Blue Jays take on Mariners in home opener

The Toronto Blue Jays are finally back home.

Novak Djokovic eclipses Roger Federer's record for oldest man ranked No. 1 in tennis

Novak Djokovic has surpassed another tennis record once held by Roger Federer, becoming the oldest man to be ranked No. 1 in the ATP Tour's computerized rankings.

Canada's swim trials shift to Toronto from Montreal because of fire, pool closure

Canada's Olympic and Paralympic swim trials have been moved from Montreal to Toronto.

Tesla settles case over fatal Autopilot crash of Apple engineer

Tesla has settled a lawsuit over a 2018 car crash that killed an Apple engineer after his Model X, operating on Autopilot, swerved off a highway near San Francisco, court documents showed on Monday.

NEW | What are the chances police can find your stolen car? Canadians believe odds are low

A new poll from Nanos Research for CTV News has found that a majority of Canadians doubt the police are able to recover stolen cars.

Elon Musk announces Tesla will unveil a 'robotaxi' on August 8

Elon Musk has long had an affinity for self-driving vehicles, claiming they will be one of Tesla's most important products. Despite big promises, years have gone by without cars that can, so far, drive on their own.

Local Spotlight

Couple lucky to be alive after piece of Montreal highway crashes into their windshield

A Montreal couple is having a hard time driving without stress and is unhappy with the city's maintenance after a chunk of highway crashed into their windshield while driving on Thursday night.

Star Trek superfan turns his home into a Trekkie’s dream

As many Star Trek fans may know, Friday was “First Contact Day,” but one superfan got to spend the day in his own starship.

'Like an underwater puppy': B.C. woman forms lasting friendship with octopus

When Catherine Dobrowolski began doing daily walks by the water, she never expected to make an eight-legged friend.

Ground-breaking Canadian giraffe researcher Anne Innis Dagg dies at 91

Pioneering Canadian giraffe researcher and feminist activist Anne Innis Dagg has died at the age of 91.

Merlin the Macaw leaving Halifax for Ontario due to depression and stress

According to a news release from the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Merlin the Macaw, a resident mascot for the facility, is flying off to Safari Niagara in Fort Erie, Ontario.

Ontario family's car stolen from parking lot of Montreal hotel

A family from Ontario says their SUV was stolen from a hotel parking lot in Montreal while the family was on a March break vacation down south.

Ottawa snowbirds embark on epic bicycle journey back to Canada

Two adventurous snowbirds have embarked on an amazing journey back to Canada, and they're inviting the world to join in on their adventure.

'I'm indebted to these guys': First responder, former cop save N.S. man's life in hockey rink

A first responder and a former police officer saved a Nova Scotia man's life as he suffered a heart attack on ice in March.

'Pretty remarkable': Alberta distillery beats out Ireland, Scotland at international whisky competition

A distillery in Parkland County is being internationally recognized for outstanding whisky production – and one bottle in particular is getting all the attention.

Suspects traded street drugs for safer supply outside B.C. pharmacy, police say

Prince George RCMP say after multiple days of investigation, including surveillance outside one of the city’s pharmacies, officers arrested two people who had been offering illicit drugs in exchange for safer supply opioids.

Don't let the weather get you down, there will be a total eclipse over B.C. in 2099

A total eclipse was never in the cards for Metro Vancouver on Monday, but it was so overcast that even catching a glimpse of the moon taking a so-called "bite" out of the sun was impossible.

Indigenous Women's Justice Plan calls for major reform by province and feds

The BC First Nations Justice Council has released a detailed plan for broad reforms it says will improve the lives of Indigenous women and girls.

State of emergency ends in Niagara Region after eclipse ends 'without incident'

The state of emergency that was declared by Niagara Region in advance of Monday’s total solar eclipse is now over.

'It does kind of put you in your place': Calgary comes out to catch glimpse of solar eclipse

Thousands of Calgarians flocked to the University of Calgary on Monday to get a glimpse of the solar eclipse.

Calgary police seek pair charged in vicious 2019 kidnapping, assault

Two Calgarians accused in a brutal 2019 kidnapping and assault are wanted by police after missing a court appearance.

SOLAR ECLIPSE | Historic solar eclipse brings breathtaking views across eastern Ontario

Thousands of people gathered as a solar eclipse moved across eastern Ontario Monday afternoon, achieving totality in several communities.

SOLAR ECLIPSE | Scenes from the solar eclipse across eastern Ontario

Thousands are gathering across eastern Ontario in preparation for a solar eclipse that will begin moving through the province at 2 p.m.

Tractor trailer driver seriously injured after crash on Hwy. 417

Ottawa paramedics say the driver of a tractor trailer had to be airlifted to hospital after a crash on Highway 417 Monday afternoon.

No charges in pedestrian's death in St-Michel

A 54-year-old truck driver will not be charged in the death of a pedestrian last June after a Quebec coroner's report and recommendations.

Woman who claims she was attacked by dogs that killed boy in south Edmonton plans legal action against owner

The lawyer representing a woman who says she was attacked by two dogs that last week killed an 11-year-old boy in south Edmonton said she plans to take legal action against the animals' owner.

'It looks really cool': Hundreds enjoy partial eclipse at Telus World of Science

Edmonton may only have had a partial eclipse on Monday but hundreds of people still had an exciting experience viewing it at the Telus World of Science.

Everything you need to know about solar eclipses

The eclipse moved over a large swath of North America and during the brief period when the moon totally covered the sun, day transformed to night with a show of streamers and magnetic loops dancing around the sun.

New Glasgow police ask for the public’s help locating missing senior

The New Glasgow Regional Police is asking for the public’s help locating 73-year-old Adair Townsend.

Takeoff: WestJet increasing flights from Winnipeg to Montreal and Ottawa, adds direct Nashville route

If you’re looking to fly out of Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, you’ll now have more flight options.

'Magical feeling': Manitobans take in partial solar eclipse

Manitobans gathered to watch a rare celestial event on Monday.

Time to tee off: City of Winnipeg to open golf courses earlier

Get ready to hit the links in Winnipeg, just over two weeks earlier than last year thanks to the mild weather.

In Pictures | Here's what Monday's solar eclipse looked like in Saskatchewan

Monday's solar eclipse was only partial in Saskatchewan, but with proper eyewear it was still possible to see the moon crossing paths with the sun during the early afternoon hours.

Sask. river crossing attracts crowd as fish make upstream journey

The Arm River low level crossing was host to a fascinating sight over the weekend — as schools of determined fish made their journey upriver.

Sask. preparing for potential early start to wildfire season

Saskatchewan saw an unprecedented amount of wildfires last year, and now officials are preparing for another busy season after months of low precipitation.

Watching the solar eclipse in Waterloo Region and Guelph

People across Waterloo Region - and beyond - had their eyes on the skies for Monday's solar eclipse.

Tributes to Ontario couple killed in Swiss avalanche

Capt. Sean Thomas and Nicole Nagy were snowboarding in Switzerland over the Easter long weekend when both presumably died in an avalanche.

‘EePispe 2024’: Eclipse cake gone wrong in Kitchener, Ont.

A work party in Kitchener, Ont. may not have gotten the eclipse-themed cake they were hoping for.

Saskatchewan residents looked to the skies. Some saw mostly clouds

Crowds of people across Saskatchewan were outside on Monday hoping to catch a glimpse of the rare celestial spectacle that made news across the continent.

Saskatoon property 'crawls' with swarms of maple bugs

Bob Muckalt rarely had to deal with maple bugs before he and his wife Rita bought their home in Confederation Park in 2021.

Northern Ontario

Here's what the total solar eclipse looked like at its peak in Ontario

Though the skies clouded the total solar eclipse as it peaked through Toronto, several onlookers still donned their certified solar shades to view the 'once-in-a-lifetime' celestial event.

Drunk Sudbury man arrested trying to hitchhike on Hwy. 400

A 37-year-old Sudbury man heading to the airport Sunday with his buddies for a trip south ended up in the holding cells of the Southern Georgian Bay OPP detachment.

Men who started Sudbury fire that killed three people testify at murder trial

A murder trial in Sudbury will continue Tuesday with testimony of one of the men who admitted to starting the fire that killed three people.

London, Ont. jury hears disturbing evidence at child abuse case involving parents

A London, Ont. jury heard horrific testimony Monday surrounding the alleged abuse of several children at the hands of their mother and father.

Brief totality reached for solar eclipse in Tillsonburg

According to NASA's calculations, the total eclipse will began to peak in Canada in the minutes before 3:15 p.m. local time for communities near the north shore of Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario

Limo passenger taken to jail rather than airport after arrest on Highway 400

Police say a man on his way to the airport in a limo with his friends wound up in a holding cell over the weekend instead.

Malnourished, frostbitten pups rescued by Barrie organization in dire need of donations

A non-profit animal rescue organization in Barrie that relies on community generosity recently saved a distressed young lab and her 12 puppies from northern Manitoba.

Driver allegedly blows over 2x legal alcohol limit after crashing into Barrie beauty salon

A 68-year-old man from Innisfil is charged with impaired driving after police say he crashed his vehicle into a business in Barrie and took off.

Solar eclipse 2024 impresses crowds in Windsor-Essex

As the total solar eclipse fell over parts of southwestern Ontario Monday, many residents watched online and in person across the region.

Windsorite convicted in grisly 2004 murder of taxicab driver wants early parole

Ali Al-Shammari, 38, has been in prison since 2007 after being convicted of first-degree murder by a jury.

Vancouver Island

Searchers say 21-year-old still missing after empty kayak found on Vancouver Island

Searchers are scouring a remote section of northwestern Vancouver Island after a kayak was recovered over the weekend with no sign of its 21-year-old occupant.

Major redevelopment pitched for Victoria's waterfront around the Capital Iron building

Reliance Properties owns the land spanning from the waterfront, through the Capital Iron building and up to Government Street, and is looking to redevelop it.

B.C. launches spring COVID-19 booster program, targeting vulnerable and unvaccinated

British Columbia is rolling out another round of COVID-19 vaccination boosters, with invitations starting to go out Monday.

Evacuation of Kelowna, B.C., apartment near construction site extended for two weeks

More than 80 residents from a low-income apartment building in Kelowna, B.C., have learned they won't be able to return to their homes for at least another two weeks.

2 men injured after 'road rage' incident with Dodge Ram driver, Kelowna RCMP say

Mounties are investigating a reported "road rage" incident in Kelowna, B.C., that left two men injured last week.

Unstable nearby construction site forces evacuation of apartment in Kelowna, B.C.

More than 80 residents of a low-income apartment building in Kelowna, B.C., have been told they need to leave over a 'significant' risk to life and safety.

'Our place in the universe': Southern Albertans take in partial solar eclipse

Whether through a telescope or solar viewing glasses, southern Albertans were treated to a 30 per cent partial solar eclipse Monday.

'Not pleased with the result': Lethbridge Hurricanes looking ahead to next season after first-round exit

The Lethbridge Hurricanes were bounced out of the playoffs earlier this week by the Swift Current Broncos after a double-overtime thriller.

'Hasn't lost its momentum': Green Shirt Day continues to inspire 6 years after Humboldt Broncos crash

This Saturday marks the sixth anniversary of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash and the start of Green Shirt Day, honouring the legacy of Logan Boulet.

Sault Ste. Marie

After ‘disastrous’ winter, Sault tourism officials hope for strong summer

As we near summer, northern tourism officials are taking stock of the winter that was (or wasn’t) and looking to the next busy season for the industry.

Sault driver clocked at 108 km/h in a 50 km/h zone

On April 5, officers with Sault police charged a 23-year-old resident with stunt driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

SPONSORED | Get your car ready for spring with these 7 tips

While winter car maintenance often takes center stage, neglecting spring preparations can lead to potential issues down the road. Here’s how you can get your car ready for spring while maximizing your savings with a CAA Membership.

On an island off Newfoundland's coast, a solar eclipse is part of history

Lego takes over newfoundland's biggest museum.

Newfoundland's biggest museum has transformed into a giant Lego playground, featuring designs made by creators young and old.

Mysterious Newfoundland shipwreck finally out of the water

It took a few cuts with a chainsaw and the full strength of a 30-ton excavator, but a mysterious Newfoundland shipwreck has finally been pulled out of the water near the small community of Cape Ray.

Shopping Trends

The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.  Read about us.

Editor's Picks

14 of the best interactive dog toys to stimulate your dog's mind, if you're ready to dip your toes into spring cleaning, you'll want to order at least one of these amazon products, 15 awesome presents to give if you're tired of gift cards, our guide to the best knee pillows in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), our guide to the best charcoal grills in canada in 2024 (and where to get them), 20 gifts that are so great, you'll want to keep them for yourself, 19 of the best mother's day gifts under $50, if you're on the hunt for a retinol serum, here are 12 that reviewers are loving right now, rosemary oil and 11 other products that reviewers swear by for hair growth, if you hate hate razors and waxing, allow me to introduce you to your new favourite at-home hair removal devices, stay connected.

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

• DVD & Streaming

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

• Action/Adventure , Animation

Content Caution

In Theaters

• August 2, 2023
• Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo; Brady Noon as Raphael; Micah Abbey as Donatello; Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo; Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil; Jackie Chan as Master Splinter; Ice Cube as Superfly; Seth Rogan as Bebop; John Cena as Rocksteady; Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut; Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko; Rose Byrne as Leatherhead; Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman; Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom; Post Malone as Ray Fillet; Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog

Home Release Date

• September 1, 2023
• Jeff Rowe; Kyler Spears

Distributor

• Paramount Pictures

Movie Review

“Humans are the demon scum of the earth; avoid them, don’t say ‘hi.’ They lust to murder that which is different from them; to interact with them is to die.”

That’s what Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael, four mutant turtles, have been taught by their adoptive rat father, Master Splinter, as far back as they can remember. And yeah, he’s got good reason to think that: The few times he’s tried to peaceably reveal himself to the general public, they’ve chased Splinter off the street with attempts on his life. As it turns out, humans don’t take too well to mutant animals—which is why Master Splinter has trained the boys up in the art of ninjitsu.

That ominous, rhyming phrase kept the four brothers scared enough to stay in the sewers for a decade or so. But it’s been 15 years since that strange green ooze that fell into the sewer turned them into their humanoid forms. Despite the constant warnings, they’ve fallen in love with the human world. And more than anything, the quartet of teens wants to be accepted by it.

But then one day as the teens are goofing off during one of their secretive errands in the human world, they distract a girl named April when they unintentionally embed a ninja throwing star in her bike helmet. It distracts her long enough to let someone steal her bike. And that’s when the turtles spring into action, swiftly taking out a gang’s worth of criminals in order to return it to her.

Despite their turtle features, April’s not afraid of them.

“The reason I’m not scared of you is because you helped me,” she tells them. And that’s when the Ninja Turtles hatch an idea.

“What if everyone saw us as heroes?” Donatello wonders.

How will they manage that? It’ll be easy! They’ll just capture Superfly, the criminal mastermind behind a recent string of deadly thefts that has the city running scared. Once they turn him in, people will realize that the Turtles aren’t monsters—they’re heroes!

But hold your cowabungas , because there’s a problem: Superfly isn’t just the criminal’s name. It’s also a descriptor.

You see, Superfly is their mutant cousin.

Positive Elements

Mutant Mayhem is an animated coming-of-age origin story for the Turtles. Not only do they step into their collective crime-fighting role as a superhero team, but they also grow more confident individually.

Leonardo is the most responsible of the four, but it takes him some time to grow into his role as the group’s leader. He often compels the other Turtles to act when someone commits a crime (because a couple of them are more inclined to avoid conflict). Each Turtle brings his own unique attribute to a fight, and they work best when they work together.

Their heroism is ultimately realized in their fight against Superfly. The villain ultimately wants to kill as many people as he can and subjugate the rest. But even though the Turtles haven’t been treated well by humans, they still fight to protect them.

Superfly, we learn, wants to carry out his evil plan because humans violently rejected him when he attempted to peacefully assimilate into society. That’s exactly what happened to Master Splinter, who was chased off the street during his own attempt. The two characters are juxtaposed against each other. So when Master Splinter hears Superfly try to rationalize his actions using an argument that Master Splinter once used, he realizes that his overstrict protection of the Turtles has caused more harm than good.

Master Splinter voluntarily adopts the four Turtle boys and raises them as his own. April commits to helping the quartet become accepted by society. Plenty of people—both humans and mutants—risk their lives to protect others and stop evil.

Spiritual Elements

In order to instill fear of humanity into the Turtles, Master Splinter has forced the quartet to memorize a lesson, part of which states that “humans are the demon scum of the earth.” One Turtle thinks that an Adele concert was “transcendent.” After a fight, Superfly says, “See you in hell, Turtles.”

Sexual Content

When the Turtles enter a high school, they stop by a bulletin board. On it, we see multiple posters, including “LGBTQ+ History Month” and “Pride Awareness” flyers as well as a transgender flag. At an outdoor movie screening, two guys sharing popcorn look like they could be on a date together.

Master Splinter tells the Turtles that he checks every day to see if there are any mutant ladies around. Later, he meets a mutated cockroach woman whom he says he’s very attracted to, and he passionately kisses the cockroach woman.

When Leonardo first sees April, he is visibly struck by her beauty. One Turtle jokingly thinks “all of [Leonardo’s] hormones just kicked in at once.” On a couple of occasions, Michelangelo twerks. When we’re first introduced to the mutant warthog Bebop, the camera pans across his pierced nipples.

Part of Superfly’s plan to subjugate humanity includes “fat-booty boy races.” A running joke throughout the film is Master Splinter’s fear that if the humans catch them, they’re going to milk them. The Turtles object to this odd fear, pointing out that they don’t even have nipples.

Violent Content

Well, Master Splinter’s fears are realized: when the boys are captured by a human, they’re strapped to a “Mega Milker 2000.” We don’t see how the process works—they’re just strapped to the machine’s side—but they say that it hurts, and green ooze is extracted out of them.

Superfly has no qualms about killing people, and he succeeds in doing so at times. We’re told that he’s the cause of some “deadly thefts.” And at one point, he kills a few men in a van—we don’t see them die, but we hear their screams get cut off as the van violently shakes. Later, we’re told that Superfly did, in fact, kill them. He also recounts how he beat a man to the edge of death, and how he turned on his attackers and killed them.

We don’t see characters bleed, but they do get bruised in many fight scenes. Most adversaries seemingly get knocked out in those fights. The Turtles’ signature weapons, though some are sharp, tend to stun opponents rather than cut them (in keeping with the PG rating). However, after some chemicals explode, we’re told that it caused the death of a man, and plenty of other guards stay motionless on the ground, though it’s unclear if they’re dead or just unconscious. Also, though the man is likely intended to be unconscious, one attacker’s stun stick looks to be impaled in his face from the viewer’s angle. Someone’s leg is broken after being thrown through the air.

The Turtles get shocked severely, and Donatello is accidentally stuck with one of Raphael’s sai swords. Master Splinter’s non-mutant cockroach friend is stepped on and killed, and Master Splinter eats her. A mutated gecko’s severed tail is pulled from rubble, but the mutant runs off in the distance, saying it’s OK because his tail grows back.

Car chases result in crashes. Some mutants are thrown out the front windshield when a car slams on its brakes; they’re annoyed but otherwise unharmed. A baby Superfly attacks his father’s assailants, dragging them around a room and seemingly knocking them out.

[ Spoiler Warning ] Superfly gets transformed into a massive mutated amalgamation of animals, and he storms into the city like Godzilla, destroying countless buildings (presumably some with people inside).

Crude or Profane Language

We hear at least seven instances of “h—” and three of “d–n.” We also hear a couple uses of “crap” and “bloody,” as well as one use of “p-ss.” God’s name is used in vain at least 16 times. And, because this film is for kids, we’ll also point out some less crude language, such as “This sucks,” “dang” and “screw this up.”

Drug and Alcohol Content

A man chugs alcohol.

Other Negative Elements

The Turtles steal groceries. Because Leonardo wants to respect Master Splinter’s wishes, the other Turtles mock him, saying his head is “up dad’s butt.” An extended gag shows April vomiting due to stage fright. April comments on seeing a cockroach floating on a piece of excrement. A mutant frequently covers others with her goopy saliva.

The crime-fighting turtles are back. And as far as origin stories for these reptilian adolescent vigilantes go, Mutant Mayhem does fairly well. Prospective viewers won’t need prior knowledge of about these characters, who’ve been around for almost 40 years now. That makes this animated film a newbie-friendly entrance into the lore of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

There are other boons that help the film, too: The Turtles not only act like teens, but they’re also voiced by them as well. And their humorous crime-fighting banter is exactly how we’d imagine a group of somewhat reckless 15-year-old fighters to behave. We also get positive messages about standing up against evil on behalf of others—even when those others might still reject you after the fact. And the fact that it’s rated PG will certainly draw some families.

But that PG rating misleads a bit, too. It belies the film’s surprising quantity of crude language that many parents may not want their kids hearing. Some sexual content is played for jokes, and a couple violent moments can get pretty intense. (See the relevant sections for details.)

At times, Mutant Mayhem has some pretty dark moments (roughly comparable to a Spiderverse movie) that may frighten or upset young viewers. After all, hearing a creepy mutant horsefly declare his desire to devour a bunch of humans may cause the youngest in the family to hide in their shells.

But, then again, despite the film’s dark moments, I spoke with one parent at the prescreening whose 10-year-old boy described Mutant Mayhem as “cool” and didn’t think it was scary. And in terms of an overall story, Mutant Mayhem ’s is funny, enjoyable and bombastic.

So, where does that leave us with these crime-fighting teens? Well, I’d counsel caution here. I think Mutant Mayhem ’s PG rating might invite some families to let their guard down too much in terms of content. Because even though that 10-year-old thought the movie was cool, his father was, like me, a bit surprised by some of the darker moments, too.

With that in mind, while we’d always recommend reading our reviews before taking the family to a flick, that’s especially true here. Because although the Ninja Turtles might be fighting crimes on the street instead of in the sewer, there’s still a bit of stink that might surprise families.

Kennedy Unthank

Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He doesn’t think the ending of Lost was “that bad.”

Latest Reviews

The First Omen

Wicked Little Letters

Weekly Reviews Straight to your Inbox!

Advertisement

Supported by

‘Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Review: More Turtle Power

This continuation of the half-shelled foursome’s saga is rendered in snappy and brightly-colored animation.

• Share full article

By Claire Shaffer

“Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie” won’t convert any new fans to the heroes in a half-shell, unless they’re under the age of 10. Still, it may pleasantly surprise parents looking for an afternoon cartoon movie to watch with their kids.

From Netflix and Nickelodeon, “Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” ties into the animated series of the same name, which ran for two seasons between 2018 and 2020. The four reptilian brothers — Leonardo (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Raphael (Omar Benson Miller), Donatello (Josh Brener) and Michelangelo (Brandon Mychal Smith) — have been given more distinctive character designs to better reflect their individual personalities.

April O’Neil (Kat Graham), formerly a redheaded television reporter (and, often, damsel-in-distress) in the 1980s cartoon, is now a Black university student with a more varied skill set for helping the turtles get out of a jam. Together with their rodent mentor Splinter (Eric Bauza), they face their biggest challenge yet when Leo’s future student Casey Jones (Haley Joel Osment) time-travels back to New York circa 2022 to ask the turtles’ help in defeating the Krang, a half-robotic alien species set on — what else? — taking over the world.

Directed by Ant Ward and Andy Suriano, the film keeps the plot streamlined to better focus on the swashbuckling action and heartfelt (if emotionally simplistic) relationship between the four turtles, particularly Leo and his overbearing older brother Raph. The animation style is snappy and brightly-colored, providing a nice change of pace from the slate-colored blockbusters currently dominating theater screens. And there’s even some good humor to be found here, including a few location-specific jokes that’ll make New Yorkers chuckle. All in all, “Rise” is as dependable as a Manhattan slice: not mind-blowing in the slightest, but just delightfully cheesy enough to keep kids and adults alike satisfied.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 22 minutes. Watch on Netflix.

Explore More in TV and Movies

Not sure what to watch next we can help..

Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig have wound in and out of each other’s lives and careers for decades. Now they are both headlining an Apple TV+ comedy of wealth and status .

Nicholas Galitzine, known for playing princes and their modern equivalents, hopes his steamy new drama, “Mary & George,” will change how Hollywood sees him .

Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth met while filming “Fargo” in 2017. Now married, they have reunited onscreen in “A Gentleman in Moscow.”

A reboot of “Gladiators,” the musclebound 1990s staple, has attracted millions of viewers in Britain. Is appointment television back ?

If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings   on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime  and Hulu  to make choosing your next binge a little easier.

Sign up for our Watching newsletter  to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.

Screen Rant

The new ninja turtles have arrived, as 'last ronin: re-evolution' sparks a bold new future for the tmnt universe.

TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 launches a new generation of Turtles. Read Screen Rant's exclusive (spoiler-free) first review now.

• Screen Rant has an exclusive first look at TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 for this SPOILER FREE review.
• TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution is a gritty and hardcore take on the TMNT franchise, allowing the all-new Turtles to become battle-ready warriors in a wasteland setting.
• The new Ninja Turtles: Yi, Uno, Moja, and Odyn, have the opportunity to become the definitive TMNT for the next generation.

It was first confirmed that the world of TMNT : The Last Ronin would expand beyond the initial standalone storyline with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution at San Diego Comic Con 2023, and fan anticipation has been building ever since. While the prequel/sequel miniseries The Lost Years effectively bridged the gap between the dystopian future of Last Ronin and its upcoming chapter, that was just a precursor to what’s in store for TMNT fans with Re-Evolution .

Screen Rant got the chance to read TMNT: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 in an exclusive first-look at the series, and the one thing that is abundantly clear is that these new mutant heroes are not your parents’ Turtles (and that’s a very good thing).

2023 Unleashed TMNT's Next Generation, as 4 New Turtles Got Names & Weapons

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Ben Bishop, Isaac & Esau Escorza, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Shawn Lee picks up right where readers of The Lost Years left off with the four new Turtles, Yi, Uno, Moja, and Odyn. New York is still a cesspool of criminal activity, and the death of Oroku Hiroto and the subsequent fall of the Foot Clan (as shown in The Last Ronin ) somehow only made things worse.

Enjoy these images from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - The Lost Years for a spoiler-free glimpse into the world of Re-Evolution !

Casey Marie Jones, daughter of April O’Neil and Casey Jones , is one of the leaders of a resistance working to fight the rising criminal warlords in New York, while the police and local government simply lie to the media about the growing crisis. New York has effectively become a post-apocalyptic wasteland right under everyone’s noses, and only a select few are willing to fight to restore it. And in this first issue, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles officially join that fight.

Last Ronin: Re-Evolution Is Allowed To Be Gritty In Ways The Original Wasn’t

While it may seem impossible for any modern TMNT comic to top the grittiness of the original black and white chronicle of murderous, sewer-dwelling mutants, Re-Evolution actually pulls it off. The new Turtles themselves aren’t darker or more 'edgy' than the original TMNT by any means--in fact, they’re all the perfect embodiments of classic teenage siblings. But it’s the setting that allows this story to be more grim, more brutal, and more hardcore than the classic TMNT .

In the original, the Ninja Turtles had to operate in the shadows, maintaining secrecy lest the modern world discover the existence of mutants. In Re-Evolution , however, the world has been through a lot (as shown in the two previous miniseries). Which means mutant turtles joining an underground resistance against an army of Warriors -esque gangs isn’t that shocking. Ultimately, leaving the new TMNT free to bash heads as battle-ready warriors in this wasteland setting, and do so in ways their crime-fighting, vigilante predecessors never could, which gives the entire series the freedom to be gritty in ways the original wasn’t.

Yi, Uno, Moja, & Odyn Could Be The Definitive TMNT For The Next Generation

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 immediately finds a perfect balance between honoring the original Ninja Turtles, while still allowing the new Turtles to come into their own. Not only that, but the world building is a welcome accomplishment, deftly revealing the exact state of its futuristic New York, previously an ambiguous wasteland. The end result is a foundation firmly laid, setting up this world and these characters to flourish without the looming presence of Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael.

Makee no mistake: the heroes Yi, Uno, Odyn, and Moja have an opportunity to become the definitive TMNT for a new generation. And based on Re-Evolution #1, there is a good chance they will. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II - Re-Evolution #1 is available everywhere on March 6, from IDW Publishing.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Have Now Been Reduced to Twerking

COWABUNGLED

“Mutant Mayhem” is the pizza-loving foursome’s latest desperate bid for relevance. Some clever animation, however, doesn’t make up for a juvenile script that is confusingly unfun.

Nick Schager

Entertainment Critic

Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Paramount/Getty

There’s no coming back from collaborating with Vanilla Ice , as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ disappointing film and TV efforts over the past three decades bear out. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (in theaters August 2) is yet another attempt at revitalizing their relevance, and its expressive animation almost does the trick, lending distinctive style to the crime-fighting foursome’s latest big-screen outing. Such aesthetic panache, however, can’t totally rehabilitate a franchise that was never cool to begin with and hasn’t aged well since, nor can a script co-written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg that vainly strives to update the heroes in a half shell for the 21st-century crowd.

Mutant Mayhem ’s sole notable calling card is its unique aesthetic, with Mikros Animation’s visuals boasting a hyper-real quality that highlights the (artificial) brushstrokes of its character and environmental models. Director Jeff Rowe’s film is a wholly CGI affair that looks like it’s been hand-crafted, its surfaces (sewer walls, city skyscrapers, explosive clouds of smoke) embellished with bold and scribbled lines. That approach bears a passing resemblance to the imagery of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse . Alas, the comparison isn’t exactly flattering; whereas Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson’s superhero blockbuster was a gonzo amalgam of disparate styles , this reboot picks a single lane and stays in it, save for a brief fantasy sequence that has the appearance of a child’s drawings.

Whereas Mutant Mayhem tries something formally new, it’s otherwise far less adventurous than Rowe’s prior The Mitchells vs. the Machines . A brief prologue relays how, 15 years ago, Dr. Baxter Stockman ( Giancarlo Esposito ) sought to alleviate his loneliness by creating a new family with a green mutant serum—subsequently referred to as “ooze"—capable of turning bugs and animals into humanoids. Unfortunately, his evil rival Cynthia (Maya Rudolph) coveted the potion and, in a special-ops raid of Stockman’s lab, the scientist’s beloved fly escaped death and a vial of the ooze rolled through a grate and into the sewers, where it coated four baby turtles as well as the adult rat, Splinter (Jackie Chan), who found them.

In the present, Splinter is the cautious surrogate father to Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) and Raphael (Brady Noon), teen turtles named after Italian Renaissance greats—although Mutant Mayhem doesn’t allude to such art-history roots (the protagonists’ monikers are shortened to Leo, Donnie, Mikey and Raph). Rather, its focus is on making modern-day references that its adolescent audience will know, from Beyonce, Batman, and Avengers to Attack on Titan , Tokyo Drift , and Wendy Williams.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were always juvenile and Rowe’s film panders to its target demographic, replete with one Turtle twerking and their newfound human acquaintance April O’Neill ( The Bear ’s Ayo Edebiri)—a fledgling high-school reporter—uncontrollably vomiting on-camera due to extreme nerves. Given the proceedings’ general immaturity, the fact that there’s no potty humor should be taken as a minor victory.

Adults won’t find much to latch onto here unless they’re the sort who delight at characters using contemporary slang like “sus” and “rizz;” the only way in which Mutant Mayhem caters to over-12 moviegoers is with its soundtrack, which uses ’90s cuts (Blackstreet’s “No Diggity,” Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “I Like It Raw,” A Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?”) to keep them from falling asleep. Still, a kiddish tone isn’t the death knell for the film, and its graphic-novel flair is intermittently enlivening.

Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies

Rowe’s action is dynamic, and he does just enough to carve out his protagonists’ personality: Leonardo the dorky goody-two-shoes leader; Michelangelo the loud and aggressive bruiser; Donatello the geeky staff-wielding brother; and Raphael the headstrong complement to his siblings. None are particularly captivating, but they’re faithful to their origins.

Rogen and Goldberg’s screenplay (co-written with Rowe, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit) is verbally hyperactive and narratively straightforward. Desperate to be a part of the human world that Splinter distrusts, the Turtles befriend April, indulge their heroic impulses, and cross paths with a criminal bigwig whose gang has been making headlines stealing high-tech equipment.

The villain in question turns out to be Superfly (Ice Cube), Stockman’s former guinea pig pet, who shares the Turtles’ desire for acceptance. It’s his methods that turn out to be the problem, because Superfly intends to build a machine that will transform every living creature on the planet into a mutant. Much chaotic combat ensues, including a car chase through New York City’s bustling streets and a final showdown in crowded midtown between the foursome and a horrifically enhanced Superfly.

Considering Rogen’s participation as both a writer and actor (he voices mutant warthog Bebop; John Cena is his burly sidekick Rocksteady), it’s surprising that Mutant Mayhem plays it so safe, not merely in terms of plot but with regards to its comedy. T

here 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. Meanwhile, the storytelling is sloppy, so that Cynthia is barely defined and unceremoniously discarded, and Superfly’s motley cohorts—whether it’s skateboarding gecko Mondo (Paul Rudd), singing manta ray Ray (Post Malone) or bat Wingnut (Natasia Demetriou)—are sketchy afterthoughts.

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. Its funniest gag arrives during an early flashback to the Turtles’ martial-arts education, which comes via viewings of Kerry Li's Guide to Self Defense, YouTube clips, and old Hong Kong movies—one of which features none other than Jackie Chan himself.

Cleverness, however, is in short supply throughout the rest of this functional endeavor, as Rowe and his collaborators tick off items on their IP checklist and diligently avoid deviating from formula. Such cautiousness prevents it from sinking to the depths of previous TMNT franchise entries. Yet in a post- Across the Spider-Verse animation landscape, standing out requires significantly more coloring outside the lines.

Liked this review? Sign up to get our weekly See Skip newsletter every Tuesday and find out what new shows and movies are worth watching, and which aren’t.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

READ THIS LIST

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Teenage mutant ninja turtles: mutant mayhem.

• Parents say (61)
• Kids say (30)

Based on 61 parent reviews

Black male character gets eliminated

Report this review, how does this have a “family” badge, this movie is inappropriate for young kids.

This title has:

NOT A KIDS MOVIE

Extremely upset with this movie, gross and visually ugly. certainly not pg, this movie makes you feel yucky 🤢, tiktok turtles: cringe mayhem, definitely not a pg movie, the ninja turtles are back in a fun, but occasionally crass adventure..

Episode 85 Reviews for: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem--The Beanie Bubble--Bird Box: Barcelona-- Disney's Haunted Mansion The Movie Wire

• Entertainment News

Heros aren’t born there mutated in the new animated vision Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Home is where the haunt is in another attempt to adapt the famous Disneyland ride in  Haunted Mansion It’s the crazy behind the craze in the new Apple TV comedy exclusive about the beanie baby creation and craze in The Beanie Bubble Fear the ones you see in the spin off to 2018’s Netflix original Sandrea Bullock thriller is this new addition to the Bird Box Universe in Bird Box: Barcelona  And Finally We also had the horror thriller Talk to Me release this week, I did an early review a couple of episodes back don’t forget to check my talk to me review on episode 82. ready for my verdict Let's get into it. Make sure to check out my favorite feel-good podcast with my favorite Wilson family, with The Super Familiar with the Wilson's Podcast Please show your support by leaving a review on Apple Podcast & follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Letterboxd @MOVIEWIRESHOW and don't forget to subscribe to the show for brand new reviews each week!!** And make sure you check The Movie Wire out as a featured podcast on the Newsly App and make sure you use promo code: THEM0V1EW1RE to receive a 1-month free premium

• Episode Website
• More Episodes
• © 2022 The Movie Wire