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Another iteration of the four most famous turtle, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem brings a breath of fresh air for the franchise telling a story we all need to hear.

Growing up with two siblings, we would gravitate towards shows and movies that featured more than two characters.  Our treehouse was themed after Codename: Kids Next Door, would pretend to be different types of benders from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and of course, pretend to fight crime as different turtles from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  When it was announced that a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie was coming out, a flood of nostalgia came crashing down over me.  And I was pleasantly surprised with the result.

Fifteen years after a mutagen seeped into the sewers of New York City, four mutant turtles start to grow agitated after living below the city with their mutant rat father and want to be treated like human teenagers.  But their father, Splinter, is afraid the human world will not accept them for who they are.  The boys run into April, a high schooler and aspiring journalist, who all team up to investigate the criminal Superfly.  But during the investigation, the turtles realize they may not be the only mutants out there.

What I have loved about animated movies in recent years is that animators are not afraid to mix different styles together and make it look very animated.  It not only looks incredible but is also used in a way to elevate the story that it is trying to tell.  This movie not only utilizes that style but expands upon it.  The animators are not afraid to let you know that this film was based upon sketches and hand-drawn effects that really emphasize what this movie is going for.  There are some animated films that want to look as realistic as possible, but that is not the case for this film.  You can tell that the goal was to look like someone was drawing doodles in their notebook, which made it even more enjoyable to watch.  There are parts of the animation that feel unfinished at times, but that is intentional for the story they are trying to tell.  These are teenage characters and every frame has that young art style to it and it works so well.  There is a mix of styles throughout the film as well, but it never strays far from that juvenile look and that makes every scene enjoyable in its own unique way.

One of the major things that sticks out right away to fans who have grown up with any iteration of the cartoon is the voice acting.  Even though the characters are supposed to be teenagers, the voice work has always been done by adult men.  As a child, this does not really phase you as being a teenager seems so far away and that is just how all teenagers sound.  It was a little jarring but so refreshing but so refreshing to hear actual teenagers voice the turtles.  It is right in their name that they should be teenagers and I finally believe they are thanks to the voice acting.

Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo), Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo) and Brady Noon (Raphael) are the heart and soul of the movie and it easily shows through their performances.  In a world where it seems like A-list celebrities are getting all of the voice work, it is so nice to get a bunch of kids together and let them be kids.  Usually, voice actors record their lines individually in a few studio sessions and call it a day.  What this film decided to do – and you can definitely tell – is to have all four of the boys voice their lines together in the same session.  The impact this has on the film is monumental as you can tell how they bounce off of each others’ line deliveries, feeling as though you are watching a live-action movie.  It brings a different kind of energy that can be lacking from other animated movies and makes the characters feel more whole; I would believe that they were actual brothers.  Jackie Chan as their rat father, Splinter, also does a fantastic job bringing a wise yet concerned tone to his performance.  Ayo Edebiri is also so enjoyable as April and her personality shines through with this role.  Everyone else in Superfly’s (Ice Cube) mutant group are fun and liven up the evil brand they are supposed to hold up.  While they are entertaining, they are still just basic voice performances from actors.  The best is Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko because of how crazy the character is and Rudd is always up to the task to deliver.  The four boys, however, are the true stars of the film as they should be.  Without them, we would have gotten a completely different film.

The story of the film is fun but it is nothing we have not seen before – the social outcasts are afraid of fitting in no matter how hard they try until they meet someone just like them.  It is a heart-warming tale of wanting to belong and find a sense of normalcy in a world that feels so foreign to you and I appreciate that.  And while stories like they are important for all ages, it can feel repetitive.  I do think it has a lot of charm to it, but every now and then I felt like I had seen this story before.  What makes this specific story fun is the modern jokes between the turtles that will always get a chuckle out of me along with the group dynamic on both the side of the turtles and Superfly’s team brings to the film.  Even though it may be a stereotypical storyline, it is always a fun film from beginning to end.

With standout animation and voice work, the story of acceptance we have heard before keeps the audience invested from minute one.

Grade: B+

Oscars Prospects:

Likely: Best Animated Feature Film
Should be Considered: Best Animated Feature Film

Where to Watch: In Theaters