The film follows the Turtle brothers as they work to earn the love of New York City while facing down an army of mutants.
One might legitimately ask why producers would try to make another “Ninja Turtle” movie. The short answer would be, I suppose because they can. Happily, this well-worn vehicle rises to the challenge, bringing forth a fresh take on the exploits of Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), and Donatello (Micah Abbey) – the four mutant turtles that long to be New York City heroes.
Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil, the reluctant accomplice of the turtles, lends a welcome air of skepticism to their quest. She is looking for compelling news content to salvage an abortive career as a high school news anchor resulting in the nickname April Puke. Though it takes her some time to come around, she provides crucial assistance at critical moments in the proceedings.
Master Splinter guides the turtles, voiced wonderfully by Jackie Chan. As a literal rat, Splinter’s encounters with humans have been hazardous to his well-being, so he urges his turtle children to avoid them altogether. Yet despite the expert martial arts training received from Master Splinter, they are all still teenagers at heart.
The film opens with the turtles galivanting at night around town, gathering supplies for their home in the sewers that they also share with Splinter. Despite the master’s admonitions, the boys long to be accepted by New Yorkers and decide that the only way for that to happen is to become crimefighting icons.
When a thief steals April’s motorcycle, the turtles spring into action. They follow the robber to a secret chop shop only to learn it is populated by a dozen or more troll-like, angry men. Nonetheless, the four turtles employ their lessons from Splinter and vanquish the miscreants handily.
In addition to Jackie Chan, the other standout in the movie is Ice Cube as the voice of Superfly, a mysterious mutant who leads an eclectic gang of characters featuring the voices of Rose Byrne, Natasia Demetriou, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph, and others. Superfly is deliciously funny and frightening in equal parts. When the turtles learn that Superfly is a fellow mutant with similar life experiences to their own, they form an unexpected bond until they learn of his nefarious plans for humanity.
This animated version of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” boasts excellent visual effects and a highly engaging soundtrack. The dialog is snappy and hip, which keeps things moving along smartly. The jack-booted bad guys are suitably menacing, ensuring tensions remain high. And, of course, there are generous helpings of martial arts sequences, pleasantly augmented by live-action footage from old Bruce Lee films and others. Audiences may not be sure what to expect, but this outing is well worth the time.
Written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, and Benji Samit from a story by Brendan O’Brien, Rogen, Goldberg, and Rowe, so many cooks in the kitchen often spells trouble for a film production. In this case, however, all the pieces come together to form a delightful whole. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” offers a solid entry into the summertime mix of movies that will please both children and adults alike.
In Theaters Wednesday, August 2nd
