Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

As a grown adult who went in stone-cold sober, I can’t say that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem took me anywhere I hadn’t been before, though that doesn’t mean I was given nothing to think about.

As Hollywood continues to strip-mine 20th-century pop culture wherever it can, Mutant Mayhem is worth acknowledging as the rare reboot that harkens back to its franchise origins while presenting something new.

The film's animation style evokes the rebellious free-form of a teen doodling in the margins of their school books, propelled by overactive imaginations and inclined as many high schoolers are toward the strange, grimy, and grotesque.

The nostalgic 80s and 90s hip-hop soundtrack is sublime, and while the action sequences can be hard to follow, there’s no faulting the film’s fizzing energy.

Sometimes comes off as a little too slack, with its teen-dirtbag ’90s hip-hop vibe leaning toward oddly languid for a movie that’s for kids as much as it is about them (in turtle form). But it’s just so charming anyway.

If you've stayed away from TMNT over the years — whether because of "Cowabunga!" or "Ninja Rap" or Michael Bay or whatever — don't be afraid to break out your swords, shout something that sounds cool and leap back into the fray.

For all the squiggles, it's quite a beautiful and joyous film, and it flows easily throughout its 99-minute running time. ... It's the first animated coming-of-age movie that feels authentic to its characters and very funny for adults too.

There's no doubt that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the best movie in the entire TMNT franchise--it doesn't hurt that it was made by fans FOR fans.

A coming-of-age film that enjoys stylized animation, but somehow on the surface becomes quite boring with its mutant turtles fighting prejudice and acceptance this time. [Full review in Spanish]

Thanks to a mix of breathless action, brilliant banter and a variety of animation styles (including the occasional flash of live-action), the time with these turtles whizzes by.