A movie about turtles, because why not.

Teenage– (too long) was originally a series created by Mirage Studios in 1984. It was about turtles saving mankind without letting the world know about their existence. The concept first appeared as a comic book, later published by Manga, and exploded in popularity with younger kids. Then, as the years went by, it somehow gained a following with teens during the 1980s and 1990s. It bounced around between age groups but remained a unique and well-loved franchise.

The series was first adapted into an animated show from 1987 to 1996. Then came a Japanese anime adaptation in 1996 that took things in a weird direction. Instead of the turtles just mutating, they gained their powers and costumes from Mutastones (I still have no clue what these are, and no website seems to explain them). Basically, they were magical stones that granted powers. Shredder, Bebop, and Rocksteady got a darker version of these stones and turned into supervillains. Oh, and if that wasn’t strange enough, the turtles could combine into one being called the “Turtle Saint”—because, you know, anime logic. This version only lasted two episodes, which probably says all you need to know about how well it was received.

A live-action series followed in 1997-1998, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. This time, they introduced a fifth turtle, a female with magical abilities. The show was supposed to continue the movie storyline but created new villains since Shredder had already been defeated. It lasted one season (26 episodes) before getting canceled.

After that, the franchise was revived multiple times, with two major animated series in 2003-2009 and 2012-present. The 2003 version was darker and more faithful to the comics, while the 2012 version took a more modern approach with updated animation and humor. Alongside these shows came countless video games, reboots, and, of course, this 2014 movie.

The movie once again reinvents the turtles’ origin story, adding a more human-parenting angle to it (which I won’t spoil). But honestly, this isn’t the kind of movie that needs a deep breakdown—it’s just something fun to watch. It’s clearly aimed at a younger audience (but not too young) and longtime fans who grew up with the franchise.

What I don’t get is why they cast Megan Fox. Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never liked her acting. She always comes off as someone doesn’t actually want to be here, like its just a paycheck. I don’t know her personally, so maybe she really loves what she does, but she doesn’t sell it for me. Will Arnett as Vernon Fenwick? Pretty solid. Funny, but nothing groundbreaking. William Fichtner as Eric Sacks? Barely relevant. He wasn’t really a main villain—just kind of there.

The real stars of the movie are the voice actors for the turtles. They were on point, perfectly capturing the humor and personality of each character.

If you like turtles being badass, reliving childhood nostalgia, and a new take on TMNT, then check this movie out. It’s not deep, it’s not groundbreaking, but it’s fun, and sometimes that’s all you need.