Could cartoon films like "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" cure the superhero slump?
In 2023, we’ve seen a number of comic-book movies — the dominant genre of the past 15 years — underperform at the box office. Sure, they still make hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide but this type of movie typically makes billions at the box office. Huge numbers required to justify budgets in the $250 to $300 million range.
But the recent spate of superhero flicks, namely “The Flash” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” has suffered from the weight of its own expectations. The stories are grim and connected to an increasingly complicated web of other films and streaming series. Only hardcore fans can keep pace.
The visual effects, crafted by artists working under the strains of COVID delays and excessive demand, look cheap and dingy despite the hefty investments. In short, the live-action comic-book film has become a chore and no one but the die-hards really want to watch.
Some have called it the superhero slump. Some have said it should be a cultural watershed.
An exception came out earlier in the summer. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was produced for just $100 million but grossed almost seven times this amount. The film is vibrant, colorful, engaging, and very hip.
It is also fully animated, using a number of styles and palettes to not only further the plot but bring contrast and depth to its characters. Watching “Across the Spider-Verse” made me wonder why more comic-book productions from DC or Marvel just don’t go the full cartoon route. This seems like it could be the cure panicked studio executives are seeking.
I’m burying the lede here because the new iteration of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” subtitled “Mutant Mayhem," should not work nearly as well as it does. It too goes down the path of animation for a film that jumps off the screen and presents a visual treat — in addition to providing excitement and humor as we head into the final stretch of summer.
We’ve had versions of the Kevin Eastman comic in the past. In 1990, there were guys in suits fashioned by the Jim Henson Studio. I remember that being pretty fun, but I was 12 years old, so of course I would like just about anything. In 2014, we got a CGI-heavy re-creation that looked too dull to endure.
Now, Seth Rogen and writing-producing partner Evan Goldberg have put their creative muscle into a version that’s dark and grungy but never forgets its real purpose: to be eye-grabbing and amusing.
Even though the film takes place in the sewers and alleys of New York City, the look is clear and the action is well-defined. The film experiments with a number of looks and styles. There’s even some live-action segments sprinkled in. None of it intended to show off, but to keep the action fresh.
Since Rogen and Goldberg co-wrote the script — they also gave us “Superbad” and “This is The End,” among other raunchy romps — there are some pretty good laughs. You either find it funny or you don't; it’s a subjective thing. I chuckled fairly regularly.
Sure, they go pretty low as they are wont to do. Even for a PG film, there’s a preoccupation with bodily functions and bathroom activities. That I did not laugh at so much.
But it’s not just the writing. There’s good voice work by people you would recognize from a Rogen film. Paul Rudd, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph. It sounds virtually like a Judd Apatow film! But even more unusual voices like John Cena and Jackie Chan also show up. The personalities shine through the visuals.
The music is also eclectic. In addition to a score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, you get A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and Blackstreet pounding on the soundtrack. Not exactly your typical animated movie, but one you might expect from white dudes raised during the ’90s.
But that’s my point — it’s refreshingly atypical. I haven’t mentioned the plot. Which is a shame because it doesn’t slouch. While the story promises a showdown between mutants, it doesn’t quite work out that way. Best for you to discover.
The real joy of “Mutant Mayhem” is its approach. The film may be a bit too dark and violent for little kids but anyone in grade school will probably endure it. As an adult, I can tell you it works even if it goes over the target audience’s head.
If there is a path forward for comic-book flicks, you can see it with “Mutant Mayhem” and “Across the Spider-Verse.” If you’re going to pay an actor big bucks to fly around in front of a green screen, won’t you get more bang for your buck by going all out on the animation? Heck, it might be cheaper and better.
We could use some mixing up around the superhero world these days. Some wise-cracking, pizza-eating turtles might be the best bet we’ve got.
James Owen is the Tribune’s film columnist. In real life, he is a lawyer and executive director of energy policy group Renew Missouri. A graduate of Drury University and the University of Kansas, he created Filmsnobs.com, where he co-hosts a podcast. He enjoyed an extended stint as an on-air film critic for KY3, the NBC affiliate in Springfield, and now regularly guests on Columbia radio station KFRU.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Could "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" cure the superhero slump?
