STARRING: JACKIE CHAN, ICE CUBE, NICOLAS CANTU, BRADY NOON, MICAH ABBEY, SHAMON BROWN JR. AND AYO EDEBIRI
DIRECTED BY: JEFF ROWE
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 2, 2023
Go Ninja, Go Ninja, Go! The popular band of turtle brothers are back for the seventh film of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle franchise with the newly released film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” This isn’t Jeff Rowe’s first rodeo when it comes to directing animated movies as he has previously put forth his directorial skills towards The Mitchells vs. the Machines and Gravity Falls. There is a fair share of household names and fresh faces in Hollywood in this movie. You may recognize the voices of John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Seth Rogen, Post Malone, and Paul Rudd. The four turtle brothers and April O’Neil are voiced by Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., and Ayo Edebiri. The film was produced by Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Pictures, and it was distributed by Paramount Pictures. The total running time is 99 minutes. Since its release on June 12, 2023, the film has amassed $172.7 million with a budget of $70 million.
After being shielded from the outside world for years by their mutant father Splinter (Jackie Chan), the four brothers—Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Rafael (Brady Noon), Donatello (Micah Abbey), and Michaelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.)—set out to win over New Yorkers and become recognized as typical teens. With the help of their first human friend April O’Neil (Ayo Edebiri), they take on a cryptic crime ring, but when they encounter a band of mutant villains, they find themselves in deeper trouble than they anticipated.
This film was very enjoyable. I have been a fan of the franchise for as long as I can remember, and I was exceedingly pleased with Mutant Mayhem. I love it when animated movies reference something pertaining to the real world. For example, Donatello mentions K-Pop and anime a few times and I am quite the fan of those things. Although this film may cater more towards individuals of a younger age, it displays strong themes that adults can appreciate too. For young viewers, this is a fun and educational film that teaches the importance of community and to not let fear get in the way of what we want to accomplish. For the older audience, it’s a reminder that a strong community can bring about the change we want to see in our lives and fear should not limit us. Acceptance in the human world seems like a farfetched dream for the turtle brothers and fear drives Splinter to keep them hidden in the shadows. Past experiences can traumatize people enough to make bad and unhealthy decisions. Family, a strong community, and the bravery to try can make a difference. It can even save you from a gigantic mutant titan.
So, if you’re looking for a fun movie to check out with your family give this one a chance. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.