Plot: What’s it about?
As a former comic book collector, I remember seeing an odd comic called Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Just saying the name out loud makes you think that someone was on drugs when they wrote it. And, truthfully, they probably were. But so what? Nearly four decades later, these “heroes in a half shell” have entertained us in one form or another with a live action movie, traditional animation, a CGI/live-action film and now a new, more “edgy” animation in the vein of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (and its predecessor). If that style of animation is your thing, you’ll be right at home. If not, there’s no shortage of other TMNT content out there.
The film assumes, yet doesn’t assume, that you’ve seen and/or are familiar with things. We get a brief prologue that explains how Leonardo (voiced by Nicolas Cantu), Donatello (voiced by Micah Abbey), Michaelangelo (voiced by Shamon Brown, Jr.) and Raphael (voiced by Brady Noon) came to be and how they ended up in the care of Splinter (voiced by Jackie Chan). When the quartet meet up with reporter April O’Neil (voiced by Ayo Edebiri), it puts them in the public eye. Their abilities are put to the test when they meet Superfly (voiced by Ice Cube), who starts committing a series of thefts. He along with his gang of thugs: Rocksteady (voiced by John Cena), Bebop (voiced by Seth Rogen) and Mondo Gecko (voiced by Paul Rudd), he intends to build a “special” machine. The turtles are on a mission to stop him, that is until a second villan, Cynthia Utrom (voiced by Maya Rudolph) comes along…
Despite my backstory of the turtles, I’ve never been a huge fan. I don’t know…I always felt I was too old for them. Then again here I am at 50 years old (as of this writing), reviewing a movie in which they star. Go figure. But I have to say that I rather enjoyed this one. It’s got some top notch vocal talent, though I’ve never understood why they have to hire huge names if they’re only using their voices. At any rate, those familiar with the turtles will know what to expect, but this one does take a fresh take on things. The film was a modest hit as well, raking in nearly $200 million worldwide and we all know what that means – turtle power isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Video: How’s it look?
Paramount brings some major Turtle Power in this 2.39:1 HEVC 4K image. And, to be blunt, the animation in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is mesmerizing to look at. It’s darker, more angular, and grittier than most major-release animated fare. Oftentimes, the style and coloring make it look like a painting that has come to life. Even though we’ve had other Turtles movies, the freshened-up visuals help this one stand out in a positive way. They give it a feel all its own. A scene in a bowling alley during a “glow bowl” event is particularly stunning. Suffice it to say, this one delivers.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The included Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also a nice surprise. While a movie like this will make more use out of atmospheric sound than, say, a romantic comedy – it’s done well. The cast includes a “who’s who” of notable talent and big names like Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd lend the vocal talents to the film. Surrounds are constantly churning, offering the viewer a nice 360 degree soundstage that’s sure to please. Hearing swords clanging in Dolby Atmos is a most pleasurable experience.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- TEENage Mutant Ninja Turtles— For the first time the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are voiced by actual teenagers! Hear how each Turtle was cast and how having all four boys record together helped create the authentic camaraderie seen on screen.
- The Mutant Uprising— Get to know the Turtles’ mutant antagonists, led by the wild and original character Superfly, voiced by Ice Cube.
- New York, New York: The Visual World of Mutant Mayhem— Take a deep dive into the breakthrough visual style of the film’s characters and environments and how they evolved over time.
- Learn to Draw Leo—Try your hand at drawing the Turtle leader with this fun tutorial!
The Bottom Line
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been around for nearly four decades and odds are they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. But they still manage to entertain and there’s something to be said for that. Paramount’s disc looks and sounds pretty darn good, though the disc is a bit light on the supplements. This is a jump ball.
