Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023) – Movie Review (with Spoilers)
Similar to the Spiderman franchise, it seems all the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” franchise needed was to be rebooted enough times to recapture the magic.
Spoiler Alert: This post may contain spoilers. Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
General Information
| Director(s) | Jeff Rowe, Kyler Spears |
| Screenplay By | Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit |
| Based On | The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman |
| Date Released (In Theaters) | July 31, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Young Adult, Animation |
| Film Length | 1 Hour 39 Minutes |
| Content Rating | Rated PG |
| Noted Characters and Cast | |
| Baxter Stockman | Giancarlo Esposito |
| Master Splinter | Jackie Chan |
| Michaelangelo | Shamon Brown Jr. |
| Donatello | Micah Abbey |
| Raphael | Brady Noon |
| Leonardo | Nicolas Cantu |
| April O’Neil | Ayo Edebiri |
| Superfly | Ice Cube |
What Is “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” Rated And Why?
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is Rated PG because:
- Dialog: Nothing Notable
- Violence: Cartoon violence that doesn’t include blood but does include a scene of torture
- Sexual Content: None
- Miscellaneous: Noted testing on animals
Film Summary
This content contains pertinent spoilers. Also, images and text in this post may contain affiliate links. If a purchase is made from those sites, we may earn money or products from the company.
Set in New York, after a brief origin story for both our heroes and villains, featuring one of the Ooze’s lead scientists, Baxter Stockman, we time jump 15 years. At that point, Master Splinter has already trained Michaelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo on how to fight and defend themselves, but he has also done his best to instill fear within the boys about the human world. But, their curiosity has peaked. So when they accidentally meet April O’Neil, after a ninja star incident, and she isn’t like the humans Master Splinter warned them about, there is hope.
The idea is the boys and April will use each other to raise their standing, and all they have to do is take down Superfly and his gang, who seemingly want the same things the boys do: acceptance. It’s just Superfly, and his crew are going about it in a more diabolical way.
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Baxter Stockman
One of the lead scientists of TCRI, with a focus on the development of Ooze, the only thing we know about Baxter is that he was an eccentric and lonely man who found closer relationships with his experiments than people.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Mandalorian,” their role in “Dear White People,” and their role in “The Maze Runner.”
Master Splinter
Once a normal rat, fearful of those who would hurt or try to eat him, he was infected by Ooze just like the turtles, and thus as he developed human characteristics, he also developed a love for the turtles and adopted them as his own. While instilling a fear of humans in them.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Foreigner” and their role in “Kung Fu Yoga.”
Michaelangelo
The chilliest of them all, Michaelangelo is a mix of all of his brothers, just without the same level of intensity they have.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Chi.”
Donatello
Donatello is a bit nerdy, usually playing with a tech device or being the accepted black sheep amongst his brothers due to his love of anime, K-Pop, and various other industries.
Raphael
The main one of the group ready for a fight, Raphael is one of the biggest of his brothers, and while he has enjoyed sparring for years, he is ready for some real action.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Good Boys.”
Leonardo
Likely Splinter’s favorite, as he was one of the first to approach him, Leonardo is the would-be leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but while given such a title, he has yet to truly earn it amongst his brothers.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Raven’s Home.”
April O’Neil
A high school reporter with a desire to work behind the scenes far more than in front of the camera, April is the key to the boys getting to integrate into the human world by showing they aren’t monsters or freaks. But she has her own motives for helping the boys she makes very clear.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Theater Camp,” their role in “Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between,” and their role in “Bottoms.”
Superfly
Baxter’s first and favorite mutation turns evil because of the rejection he receives from the human population, and swears revenge that will flip the power dynamics.
- The actor is also known for their role in “The High Note,” their role in “Barbershop: The Next Cut,” and their role in “Ride Along.”
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Who Is This For?
Not only fans of Teenage Ninja Turtles but also who like fun and comical animated stories, which already have planned sequels and even a TV series.
Highlights
The Soundtrack
From hip-hop classics to BTS, 4 Non-Blondes, and Linda Perry, the soundtrack of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is only rivaled by the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. And what makes the music choices feel so good is not only how they fit the environment of the film, but you get a sense the music also holds a place in the characters’ hearts, not just are the favorites of the director or music supervisor.
The Dialog & Humor
For those who know New York or even urban slang and cadence, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is hilarious. Each voice actor honors both that this is a kids’ movie while recognizing adults are taking kids to the movie – without having to use jokes that would go over kids’ heads.
For whether it is Leonardo struggling with being a leader, partly because he is a snitch, Raphael having aggression issues when given the chance to fight bad guys (and lowkey over always hanging out with his brothers), to Donatello being a nerd, and Michaelangelo being a bit of a mix of their brothers? Oh, the jokes fly, the lingo gives you straight-up Bronx, NY, and Ice Cube as Superfly? Honestly, he was the biggest surprise for while Ice Cube has perhaps developed a bigger career as a comedic actor, in modern times, than a rapper? His family-friendly fare isn’t as large as his R-Rated fare.
Last but not least, April, fueled by Ayo Edebiri’s brand of awkwardness, is one of the biggest reasons, whether on Nickelodeon or Paramount+, we’ll be interested to see how the television series for the rebooted franchise moves forward. She, alongside the boys, gives you a sense of high school realness that is very on-brand for Nick.
Recommendations
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FAQs
Answers to some questions you may have regarding this movie:
The Reason The Movie Is Named “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem”
Due to the fact it is a battle against various mutants, all born from ooze.
Does “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” Setup A Sequel or Prequel?
Yes, it does, featuring a character you fully expect to see in a sequel to this.
Does “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” Have A Mid-Credit or End Credit Scene?
Yes. It lets you know what happens after the events of the finale battle, and TCRI sets up an intro for the next villain for the turtles to face.
