As an ape that was raised in 1990s on superhero cartoons and action figures there’s something excitingly nostalgic about seeing Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the same movie. Although they seem like they might not be able to co-exist in the same universe the film does well to weave their various characteristics together. Primarily Batman’s dry and serious style, with the turtles continuing irreverent humour.
The villains also work well together. As the teenage turtles try to figure out which of Batman’s enemies might be teaming up with Shredder, it seems almost obvious that the one who is working with the leader of the Footclan would be the one with his own League of Assassins: R’as Al Ghul. And to weave these two worlds together through the narrative we have an unhealthy dose of mutating serum that turns foot soldiers into animalistic monsters.
The action is exactly what you’d hope for in a mash-up like this: fluid, over-the-top, and full of fan service. Batman fighting Shredder? Yes, please. The turtles squaring off against the Penguin’s goons? Cowabunga. And somewhere in between all the roundhouse kicks and rooftop gliding, there’s room for a few surprisingly heartfelt moments.
Each character feels true to themselves: Leonardo respects Batman’s discipline, Raphael butts heads with his grumpier Gotham counterpart, and Donatello geeks out over the Batcave’s tech like a nerd at Comic-Con. But it’s Michelangelo who truly steals the show, his awe and confusion at Gotham’s gloominess is comic gold. Whether he’s riding a T-Rex in the Batcave or renaming Alfred “the wise and sarcastic one,” he brings exactly the kind of absurd energy the crossover needs.
In the end, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a love letter to the fans. Those of us who spent Saturday mornings glued to the TV with action figures in one hand and sugary cereal in the other. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly why it works. It’s a ridiculous concept executed with sincerity and joy, like someone dared the writers to have as much fun as humanly (or turtle-ly) possible, and they said, “Challenge accepted.”
This one’s for the kid in you who still thinks a sewer can lead to a secret lair, and that Batman probably does eat pizza. Just not with anchovies.
