Review
DULCIE PEARCE
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem review: A bodacious big screen ride for all the family
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM
(PG), 99mins
★★★★★
IF you were to pause any second of this incredible animation, it would look like a vibrant piece of art.
This is the seventh — and by far the best — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle film, and it begins by showing how the four martial arts maestros with a shell started life.
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Having been covered in magic goo, created by a mad scientist, the four baby turtles are discovered in a sewer by a rat, Master Splinter (Jackie Chan) who also got infected by the green stuff.
It mutates all five of them, making them able to walk, talk and karate kick their way out of any situation.
While Master Splinter has a huge distrust of humans and bans the boys from having anything to do with them, Donatello (Micah Abbey), Michelangelo (Shamon Brown Jr.), Leonardo (Nicolas Cantu) and Raphael (Brady Noon) are typical teens and fascinated by anything they are not allowed.
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During one scene where they secretly watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at an open air cinema, Leonardo sighs: “Maybe one day everyone will love us like they love Ferris Bueller.”
This leads them to befriend real-life human April (Ayo Edebiri), a high-school girl and budding journalist who is desperate to save her prom which is being jeopardised by internationally-loathed baddie, Superfly (Ice Cube).
Sick of sewer life and hungry for adventure, the pizza-loving brothers put a plan together to fight Superfly — and win April’s admiration.
But things get very complicated and they are in over their green, hairless heads.
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Directed by Jeff Rowe and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, this ferociously funny and brilliantly told story is a wonder to behold.
The first few seconds might have you questioning whether the doodle come to life might be a little taxing.
But you will soon be carried away with the energy and humour of the super-cool quartet.
And with one of the best soundtracks on the big screen — including Blackstreet and Dr Dre’s No Diggity and ODB’s Shimmy Shimmy Ya, it will have every generation headbobbing in their cinema seats.
A bodacious big screen ride for all the family.
TALK TO ME
(15), 95mins
★★★★☆
THERE’S a strong chance you might think twice about reaching for a loved one’s hand at the cinema as that body part plays the baddie in this nightmare-inducing film.
Set in the classic mould of teen pals deciding to try a creepy seance to goad and frighten one another, Talk To Me quickly develops beyond the conventional ghosts and ghouls.
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Keen to be noticed among her peers, Mia (Sophie Wilde) puts herself forward to conjure spirits at a house party.
The group of friends discover they can do this by lighting a candle, holding on to a strange embalmed hand – which has a very loose backstory – and saying “talk to me.”
What follows will have you wishing for multiple pillows to hide behind.
It soon becomes apparent that what started as a game is now wreaking havoc in the real world, leading to some shockingly gory scenes and twisted psychological deception.
Despite a modest budget, debut Australian directors Danny and Michael Philippou create a terrifying tale that delivers in both style and scare factor.
This is truly one of the most horrifying films I’ve seen on the big screen.
THE BEANIE BUBBLE
(15) 110mins
★★★☆☆
FOLLOWING up Tetris, Apple TV serves up another pop culture biopic – this time honing in on the Beanie Babies craze that exploded in the 90s.
Written and co-directed by Kristen Gore, with OK Go’s Damian Kulash, the comedy centres on three women integral to the success of the Ty-branded soft toys.
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Robbie (Elizabeth Banks) is the frustrated neighbour of Ty Warner, a toy salesman played with muted charm and obnoxious immaturity by Zach Galifinakis.
They decide to collaborate on a new cuddly toy and soon starts raking it in.
We also watch plucky Maya (Geraldine Viswanathan) join the company and spearhead the success of the flailing Beanie Babies line.
While single mother-of-two Sheila (Sarah Snook) provides Ty with romantic and familial inspiration.
There’s a Big Short-esque energy to proceedings but the non-linear approach to the storytelling makes it difficult to keep up with events.
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Gore’s script doesn’t serve its key players well but reliable performances and a niche subject make The Beanie Bubble an enjoyable yet forgettable watch.
HANNA FLINT
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