'Mutant Mayhem' is a TMNT reboot about action, comedy and acceptance

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—this name will bring nostalgia for most millennials. It started as a comic book series in 1984 and has been adapted into numerous films and animated TV series since the 1990s. 

At first, this franchise was treated as a superhero parody, but in the present, it has become an indispensable part of the superhero genre. The seventh installation of TMNT, Mutant Mayhem, is finally here as a reboot: Contemporary, targeted at a younger audience but still keeping the nostalgia for older fans.

This version of TMNT is treated as the beginning, so it's the same old anthropomorphic turtles Donatello, Michaelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael living in the sewers with their rat father figure, Splinter. 

They gained human consciousness after getting contacted by mutagenic ooze spilt on accident by rogue scientist Baxter Stockman. The Ninja Turtle family wants to be part of human society but is shunned by their appearance. So the turtle quartet is constantly finding a cause good enough to be accepted by humans.

Their chance comes after saving April O'Neil, an aspiring journalist. They mutually agree to solve a series of crimes and are acknowledged as heroes. The criminal is mysterious, as whoever sees him becomes dead. But the turtles aren't giving up; many novices trained in ninjutsu are determined enough to track down the kingpin.

Superfly, the first mutant created by Baxter's chemicals, is the kingpin. He has gathered a crew of mutants who hate humans, so they unite to destroy humanity. The quartet first becomes sympathetic to their cause but then realises they weren't taught to harm others. 

Moreover, the evil corporation Techno Cosmic Research Institute is after the turtles and the Superfly gang for their nefarious research. Ninja Turtles vs. Superfly vs. TCFI is a Mexican Standoff situation. Who's going to win?

This Mutant Mayhem reboot is made with several things in mind. The animation style is coming-of-age, perhaps inspired by Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse, but has its unique art style. 

The characters are made family-friendly and quite contemporary, throwing Gen Z jokes, using social media to promote their actions, etc. 

The actions are well choreographed, and the boss fight is meant to be scary but kept as PG-13 as possible.

The film also explored themes of social acceptance. Donatello, Mike, Leo, and Raphael look different from humans, and they are outcasts for it even though they behave like humans. This film conveys that as long as anyone has good intentions in his heart, he will be accepted by everyone. 

With a stellar cast like Giancarlo Esposito, Jackie Chan, and Paul Rudd, this film is a good family-friendly superhero action film.

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