The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property has always been divisive in its cinematic endeavors. Some have fond nostalgia for the films from the 90s, while others prefer the classic animated series. There was an attempt with live-action adaptions in 2014 and 2016, but they never connected with audiences.
Now a new animated adaption-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem-is out in theaters. Having earned a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, It’s certainly filled viewers with excitement. The finished result is something much more fun than those more tepid viewers might expect.
Mutant Mayhem’s story follows Donatello (Micah Abbey), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu), Raphael (Brady Noon), and Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), working to be accepted in society. Much to the chagrin of their mutant Rat father, Splinter (Jackie Chan), the boys attempt to interact with the human world. This mission lets them meet some good humans (Ayo Edebiri) and bad mutants led by the dangerous Superfly (Ice Cube). The results equal a rollicking and very funny adventure.
The Boys Want to Fit In
Each of the Turtles have their own ambitions involving the human world. They all believe that they deserve the chance to fit in with humans. The boys usually appear in the world to run errands for Splinter. They stay out late, pick up groceries, and even sneakily watch movies in the park.
As they all want a human life, they cross paths with high-school reporter April O’Neil (Edebiri). Her reaction to the turtles is not at all what they expect. She does not have the reaction of fear that Splinter had warned them about. It is a surprise but the start of a mutually beneficial relationship for all the characters involved.
April and Co. decided that for a “breaking story,” she would capture the boys being heroic. This forces them to cross paths with Superfly (Cube) and his mutant family (Seth Rogen, John Cena, Paul Rudd, Rose Byrne, Post Malone, and Hannibal Buress). The boys see these fellow mutants as the friends they have been wanting all along.
It all goes well, much to April’s dismay, since she wants a story until Superfly’s plan is revealed. He and his family want to turn all the animals in New York into Super Mutants. This is when the Turtles realize they might not have the “friends” they had hoped for.
The Turtles go along with this plan up to a certain point. When they jokingly say they are not on board, an all-out brawl occurs. The massive fight eventually leads the boys to be captured by the company TCRI. Led by Cynthia Utrom (Maya Rudolph), she wants to use the turtle's “ooze” for her own purposes.
The turtles are eventually saved by Splinter, who was informed by April that the boys were captured. Once the team is back together, their true mission is clear. They must work together to stop Superfly’s plan to enslave humanity. This requires all the mutants to come to a realization through a chaotic brawl. “Superfly’s” family does not want to enslave humanity.
The Mutants Have to Come Together
Once the team (The Turtles, Splinter, and the Mutants) thinks they have defeated Superfly, they come to another realization. They only pushed Superfly into the ooze, making him stronger than ever. He comes out of the ooze as a disgusting creation that eventually infuses more Zoo animals.
That is when our gigantic team of heroes realizes they need to go to the human world. Reunited, all the mutants, thanks to a speech from Splinter, decide to try and save the city. They arrive in New York but do not have the warm welcome they hoped for.
All of New York thinks the turtles and their friends are the real enemies. With the city and a mutated Superfly against them, all hope seems lost. It is not until the boys are nearly defeated that Splinter comes to save the day. When he can't even gain the upper hand against Superfly, Splinter finally receives help from the people of New York. That is thanks to April broadcasting (and overcoming her stagefright) to tell the people of New York what is actually happening. Then, the real fight begins against the genetic and monstrously enhanced Superfly.
Superfly is finally defeated, and the heroes rejoice at their victory. Splinter even gets his chance at love with the mutant Scumbug. With all the celebrations, Splinter and the Turtles welcome the mutants to their family. They all do so by allowing the family to join them in their life in the sewers.
With all appearing good for the new mutant family, the Turtles can fulfill their dream of going to high school. As the turtles enjoy their new life, it is revealed that they are being monitored by Cynthia Utrom. Her plan has failed, and she has now turned to the Foot-Clan to take the Turtles down.