Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Pictures’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (animation; dubbed from the Hollywood film of the same name; UA) is the story of how humanoid mutants are converted back into a collection of normal animals.
Techno Cosmic Research Institute (TCRI) executive Cynthia Utrom sends a squadron to hunt down rogue scientist Baxter Stockman, who has created a mutagen to form his own mutant animal family. Stockman is killed, and the mutagen falls into the sewers of New York City. Fifteen years later, four turtle brothers and their adoptive rat father, Splinter, are still being chased away by humans because they were transformed into humanoid mutants by Stockman’s mutagen.
By chance, the turtles come in contact with teenage April O’Neil, an aspiring journalist. Together, they do something which makes them public heroes. Circumstances change and soon, the turtles and other mutants are assumed by the public to be fellow monsters. But April changes people’s perception. What happens thereafter?
Brendan O’Brien, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Jeff Rowe’s story is interesting up to a stage, but there are points which appear similar to points seen in other earlier films. The screenplay, penned by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Jeff Rowe, Dan Hernandez and Banji Samit, has its share of highs and lows. After a point of time, the drama tends to get confusing at places. Besides, the whole angle of mutants versus humans has been seen a bit too often. Dialogues are okay.
Voice acting is quite good. Jeff Rowe’s direction is reasonably nice. Animation is very good. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ background music is okay. Kent Keki’s cinematography is alright. Yashar Kassai’s production designing is appropriate. Editing (Greg Levitan) ought to have been tighter. Dubbing is good.
On the whole, Teenage Mutants Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a dull fare.
Released on 1-9-’23 at Movie Time Goregaon (3D; daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Viacom18 Motion Pictures. Publicity & opening: dull. …….Also released all over.