This post may contain spoilers for Mutant MayhemMutant Mayhem continued a troubling trend as it underutilizing the catchphrase "Cowabunga" (which has been an issue in several TMNT movies). Since its release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem gained high praise from audiences and critics alike, holding a nearly-perfect score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. This beat out the score for every other Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie except for the Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover film. Many people have called the movie their favorite of the franchise, surpassing even the 1990s TMNT movie.
Mutant Mayhem's hilarious quotes and stellar animation were some of the strongest elements of the movie. Additionally, Mutant Mayhem included many Easter eggs and references to previous TMNT franchise elements. Though viewers didn't need to know TMNT to enjoy the movie, these extra elements allowed fans of the franchise to get something extra out of Mutant Mayhem. Despite the overwhelmingly positive response to the movie, fans of the franchise felt let down by the fact that the turtles didn't use the popular TMNT catchphrase "Cowabunga" until the end of Mutant Mayhem.
Mutant Mayhem Is The Latest TMNT Movie To Limit Saying Cowabunga
The catchphrase "Cowabunga" has appeared in every Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV show and movie, making it a memorable staple of the franchise. Unfortunately, the movies often limited the catchphrase's usage. In the 1990 live-action TMNT movie, the "Cowabunga" phrase didn't appear until the climax of the movie. This restriction occurred again in the 2014 Michael Bay TMNT, creating an undesirable pattern. Despite changing so many elements of the movies, Mutant Mayhem also constrained the usage of the catchphrase. Michelangelo says the phrase in slow motion towards the end of the film which offers a laugh, however, Mutant Mayhem should've used the phrase more frequently.
Why Do TMNT Movies Rarely Use Their Most Iconic Catchphrase?
There's no answer as to why the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies neglected the franchise's most iconic catchphrase; however, there are a couple of possible explanations for the discrepancies. In a two-hour movie, using the same catchphrase more than a few times could come across as unnecessarily repetitive. Screenwriters might've limited the usage to ensure "Cowabunga" didn't lose its charm. Additionally, TMNT movies have had a broader appeal than the TV shows, potentially bringing in audiences who weren't necessarily familiar with the franchise. It's possible the limitation was done for the sake of non-TMNT fans in the audience who might not appreciate the catchphrase.
Regardless of the reason, Mutant Mayhem missed out on an opportunity to make fans of the franchise extremely happy by integrating "Cowabunga" into the dialogue more frequently. With the Turtles' more pronounced teenage personalities, the phrase would've fit seamlessly into their vernacular. However, there is still hope that the pattern will stop. Given the confirmation of TMNT Mutant Mayhem 2, screenwriters of the upcoming project have the potential to rectify the "Cowabunga" problem going forward.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes