Looking at the credits forTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, one might be surprised to see raunchy comedy icon Seth Rogen listed as one of the film’s top-billed producers and writers. And admittedly, at first glance, the star and creative force behindKnocked Up,Pineapple Express, andThis Is The Endseems like a head-scratching choice to reimagine one of the most beloved kids' cartoons of the 1980s for the big screen.
Yet a closer glimpse atSeth Rogen’s filmography, and the history of the Turtles as a franchise, suggests a much better fit than one would initially guess. The series has taken multiple different approaches over the years, from dark satire to laid-back hangout comedy, and Rogen has had great success working in these tones over the years. His time producing and developing offbeat cult comic adaptations and starring and writing in stoner comedies, in fact, suggests that he is the perfect person to develop aNinja Turtlesfilm.
A Lifelong Comic Book Nerd
For as well-recognized as he is for gross-out comedies, Seth Rogen has actually worked outside his comfort zone more than one would expect. In particular, in recent years, Rogen and his writing partner, Evan Goldberg, have helped develop and produce a number of successful adaptations of lesser-known comic books, namelyPreacher, Invincible,andThe Boys.
Rogen’s lifelong love of comic books has been well-documented, and he’s always especially been drawn to more offbeat, adult-oriented premises. And these qualities manifest in all of these series, which have edgier or more darkly comedic focuses than most other comic adaptations.
Preacherinvolves an alcoholic priest infused with a strange power going on a quest to find God.The Boysfocuses on a group of vigilantes tasked with hunting down corrupt superheroes. AndInvincibleis a hyper-violent glimpse at a teenager living under the shadow of his super-powered father. Rogen himself has admitted that he and Goldbergare specifically drawn to indie titles, and he’s acknowledged that their creative process wouldn’t be well suited for a Marvel or DC title.
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And the offbeat and satirical tone has actually been present in theNinja Turtlesfranchise from the beginning. People who grew up on the cartoon often forget the comic series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird that kickstarted the series, which was originally conceived as a parody of titles likeX-MenandDaredevil.As such, despite the seemingly preposterous idea of turtles named after Renaissance painters trained in martial arts, these comics had a noticeably darker angle than people most associate with the Turtles.
And asThe BoysandInvincibleshow, Rogen and Goldberg are naturally drawn to unconventional and genre-busting ideas without sacrificing them for comedy. Thus it makes perfect sense that they’d wish to apply that approach toTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Hangout Buddy Comedies
The other most recognizable tonal approach to the Turtles comes fromthe 1987 cartoonthat launched that franchise into mainstream popularity and that, to this day, still remains the most popular incarnation of the characters. Significantly departing from the darker-toned comics, the cartoon was aimed primarily at children and thus had a feeling more akin to a sitcom, as the Turtles regularly cracked jokes, and their group dynamic was played mainly to get as many laughs as possible.
Even outside of the need to appeal to kids, it seemed the creators behind the show recognized how inherently absurd the franchise’s premise was and decided to lean into it fully. And while the action and the crime-fighting from the comic series were present, on the whole, it felt less like a superhero satire than a hangout buddy comedy.
And what are films likeKnocked Up,Superbad, andPineapple Express, if not hangout buddy comedies? Watching these films feels like a glimpse into a day in the life of a teenager or young adult when one would spend time cracking jokes, pulling pranks on friends, getting on one another’s nerves, and occasionally meeting up late at night to get pizza. And the ‘87 cartoon embodied this feeling entirely.
Thus far, all the promotional material forMutant Mayhemhas followed in this spirit; the trailers have mostly played up the comedic approach, highlighting the hilarious dynamics between the four brothers (and showcasing how all four this time areactually voiced by teenagers).
And Rogen’s involvement is being heavily promoted, as the credits embody the film’s cheekiness by crediting “eternal teenager Seth Rogen.” Already it’s evident that the film is wisely following in the footsteps of both the ‘87 cartoon and Seth Rogen’s comedic roots, and at least from the trailers, it looks like a match made in heaven.
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A Joyous Ride
Already, it’s evident that the inspired match between the Turtles and one of Judd Apatow’s regulars has paid off in spades;Mutant Mayhemis the highest-rated Turtles-based film on Rotten Tomatoes, and by a significantly wide margin, as it’s theonly one to land a “Fresh” rating.
Indeed, this critical success continues to prove that Seth Rogen is a once-in-a-generation comedic talent, but moreover, that he can apply his offbeat brand of humor to a franchise that might not initially make sense at first glance. But seeing how seamlessly both his love of unconventional comic-book heroes and his laid-back hangout approach to comedy blend with the Ninja Turtles, it’s a mix that, in fact, makes perfect sense.
