Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
‘Humans are the demon scum of the earth‘
Before today’s screening, they played this trailer for PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie. What a way to set a mood. However, inadvertently or otherwise, it served as something of a reverse palette cleanser, a reminder of how *ahem* animated family movies can be, setting the bar properly on the floor – surely whatever was to come next had to be better than that?!?
Rather happily, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem is above and beyond the trailer to the sequel (How? Why? Really?!?) of 2021’s PAW Patrol: The Movie. It’s not just one of the finest animated movies of the year so far, it’s one of the finest movies of the year so far, as well as proving that we are in a golden age of animation.
The film requires no prior knowledge needed, having watched or read any of the previous incarnations is not a prerequisite. Although there’s a few nods and Easter eggs for those familiar to the franchise, the focus is – rather savvily – on introducing new generations to the 2023 variants of our beloved heroes in a half shell. Littered with accurate cultural references and perfectly-pitched banter they sound, and act, believably like real 15 year-olds.
Within the film’s first ten minutes we are swiftly (re)introduced and provided the back story to our mutant turtle quartet – leader Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), creative Donatello (Micah Abbey), powerhouse Raphael (Brady Noon) and easy-going Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.). They’ve spent their 15 years looked after by a mutant caregiver rat Master Splinter (Jackie Chan). A yearning to leave the ‘safety’ of their sewer home (exemplified by an epically chosen film reference) is forced into realisation by a chance-encounter with April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri).
This isn’t your typical drawn-out origin story that is simply setting up to get going in the sequel. This is a non-stop 99-minute-long joyous rollercoaster ride, packed full of laughs from all manner of sources and means. This is a rare example of an IP that doesn’t ‘milk’ it’s source material (you’ll really appreciate that after you’ve seen the movie…). Instead we have a refreshing update of both the content and its characters.
For one thing, this is an April O’Neil we have never seen before. She’s plus-size, black and unafraid to stand her ground. Leonardo falls in love with her at first sight, repeatedly describing her as ‘beautiful’ and clearly being enamoured with both her personality and appearance. Although this may sound small ,this kind of representation matters so, so much. To have a plus size character be plus-size without having her weight ever mentioned or questioned or used as a punchline, whilst also having her as a romantic interest, desired by Leonardo who is never laughed at for liking her and is supported by his brothers’ in his interactions with her – that mattered a lot to me watching it aged 30. I can only imagine the impact it’ll have on so many young people.
The animation style is gorgeous, the pacey story packed full of jokes as well as heart about the important of acceptance, the characters are so immensely likeable and hilariously quotable dialogue – this is a total win for all the family.
[4.5/5 stars]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is in UK cinemas from Monday 31st July.
Charlotte Sometimes 