Having grown up in the sewers four mutant turtles are desperate to be accepted by the human world that they have only been able to see in secret. So they decide to take on a super criminal as a way to be accepted on the surface. 

This new version of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an absolute joy and takes a story that we all know and love, gives it a few tweaks to set it apart and excels at delivering fun. 

Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu) wants to be a leader, Raphael (Brady Noon) is filled with rage, Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.) wants to do improv comedy and Donatello (Micah Abbey) loves gadgets. They are a group of silly, hyperactive teenagers who do not think much further than when they are next eating pizza or sneaking out into the outside world. The camaraderie and brotherhood is clear to see whilst the “teenage” element of the title is front and centre. 

The origin story is handled with aplomb and Splinter’s (Jackie Chan) protective father teaching them martial arts via films as self defence from humans is a master stroke. Whilst new villain Superfly (Ice Cube) and his minions are wonderful. The clear relatability between the heroes and the villains is well handled and speaks to the influence of nurture in a child’s upbringing. 

The film has so many winning elements that I had a smile on my face throughout. The animation is just brilliant and we now need a name for this Spider-Verse style artwork that is beginning to enter animation films everywhere. It really feels like you are watching a living comic and it’s joyous. The soundtrack from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is outstanding with dark and grimy elements emerging in the themes. Whilst the songs picked for the film match it perfectly as well. A montage scene featuring “No Diggity” is the absolute highlight of the film but there are many other mic drops throughout. And Paul Rudd steals the voice acting honours as Mondo Gecko but keep your ears peeled for Seth Rogen (Bebop) and Rocksteady (John Cena) as well. 

Stick around for a mid credits sequence that sets up a sequel which will be highly anticipated by me. 

I loved this.