Monday July 31 sees the release of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, Mutant Mayhem and the movie lands in cinemas with arguably the best reviews for the franchise ever.
The film, which boasts the involvement of comedy actor Seth Rogen and an all-star voice cast, gives a post-Spider-man Into the Spiderverse kind of animation to the adventures of the martial arts weapon-wielding reptiles and has won over critics in its latest iteration.
It arrives with an overall rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes of some 96%, an impressive score that sees reviewers and critics turning back towards the oft-revived franchise.
Among the most positive was the Daily Telegraph’s Robbie Collin, who said in hia four-star review: “Since 1990, a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film has arrived just over once every five years on average, so it stands to reason that eventually one of them wouldn’t be hideous.
“The most surprising thing about this new cartoon take from Nickelodeon Movies isn’t just that it’s bearable, however: it’s that its makers have gone so far above and beyond the call of churning out another Turtles film that it stands on its own merits as a thrillingly kinetic piece of pop art.
“Every frame crackles over with energy and colour; in the best possible way, it actually looks teenage.”
In another four-star review, the Evening Standard said: “This New York-based cartoon is peppy, anarchic, doesn’t talk down to teens, looks scrumdiddlyumptious, boasts an impeccably laconic soundtrack and gives us April O’Neil as we’ve never seen her before.”The Sun went one further, giving it five stars and saying: “This is the seventh — and by far the best — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film…”
“Turtle Power is back, thanks to a potent combo of winning humour and gnarly animation. Cowabunga!”
Total Film
The UK’s film magazines also dished out four-star reviews, with Empire noting; “Inventively animated, giddily funny, and a surprisingly authentic take on the outsider experience: it is virtually impossible not to be charmed by these reptilian bros. Inventively animated, giddily funny, and a surprisingly authentic take on the outsider experience: it is virtually impossible not to be charmed by these reptilian bros.”
And rival Total Film said: “Turtle Power is back, thanks to a potent combo of winning humour and gnarly animation. Cowabunga!”
Websites and online reviews were similarly positive, with most pointing out that this was the best the Turtles had ever looked or sounded. As Movie Nation noted:”All hail Seth Rogen for making the first big screen version of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” that doesn’t suck.”
CineXpress added: “Mutant Mayhem is the best Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film ever. This new refreshing, modern take manages to capture the very essence of the fun, lovable characters and their wacky world. A total delight. Cowabunga!”
And another, Flickering Myth, noted its ability to crossover to different age groups, saying: “Somehow, these turtles figure out how to work for every generation. This latest rendition is contemporary, fresh, and stunning to look at.”
Toys n Playthings was present for a press and influencer screening held on Sunday morning and was similarly wowed by the film. And having lived through the franchise since its first big screen iteration more than 40 years ago, it’s great to see one that lands with all ages. Young kids in the audience were squealing with delight, our teenage attendee loved it and there’s enough to appeal to older more cynical types, not least thanks to its 90s-fused hip hop soundtrack.
The screening was followed by a Turtles event held in Waterloo, which will certainly help get people talking about the film too.
