by Charles Kirkland Jr.
Everyone gets a movie, even Aquaman so why shouldn’t the cartoon Teen Titans Go?
The Teen Titans are a young, cool group of superheroes made up of Raven (Tara Strong), Starfire (Hynden Walch), Cyborg (Khary Payton), Beast Boy (Greg Cipes) and their leader Robin (Scott Menville). So when Batman gets a new movie about him, The Titans, especially Robin wonder why they can’t get a movie of their own. All the other heroes led by Batman (Jimmy Kimmel), Superman (Nicholas Cage), and Wonder Woman (Halsey) think that Robin is just a sidekick and The Titans are a comedy relief at best. When the team shows up at the movie premiere, they discover that almost every superhero has a movie. Robin is even more saddened when he learns that even Batman’s butler Alfred is getting a movie. Superstar director Jade Wilson (Kirsten Bell) informs The Titans that they cannot have a movie because they need a nemesis and won’t be taken seriously until they find one and defeat it. So The Titans discover Slade (Will Arnett), a nefarious hero with mind manipulation, who has a diabolical plan to take over the world. The Titans soon find out that in their confrontation with Slade lies not only the fate of a movie but the existence of the team and ultimately the whole world.
Teen Titans Go! to the Movies is the latest animated feature from Warner Brothers Animation the same studio that produced the great Batman Animated movies, Animaniacs and Looney Tunes features. Each one of these divisions also gets a spotlight in this movie. From the opening animated short to the closing credits, almost every varied part of Warner Animation is given a shout out in this mixed-up, hilariously tongue-in-cheek feature borne from the minds of Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic.
Horvath and Jelenic, who have spent the last five years creating the world of Teen Titans Go! on Cartoon Network, truly outdo themselves in this creation, the apparent culmination of all the years of their work. Nothing is sacred or off limits in this film. From fart jokes to spit takes, the humor is relentless and varied. There are almost as many fourth walls break here as in Deadpool and twice as many comic-book-geek insider jokes as well including an awesome cameo by Marvel’s Stan Lee (in a DC Universe movie!).
This movie is what a superhero movie would be if Monty Python, Mel Brooks, and The Lonely Island took on the genre. Superman using the term “explosive diarrhea”. The Titans using tricked out Big Wheels to go back in time. Visual gags in the background. Double entendre. And the irrelevant and unimportant (until recently) Challengers of the Unknown! Nothing is off limits in this madcap adventure.
As incredible as the movie is, the best part of the movie may be the soundtrack. Michael Bolton cameos as a white tiger singing an insanely catchy cheer-up song to Robin called “Upbeat Inspirational Song About Life.” In order to introduce themselves, The Teen Titans rap a song called “Who We Is” (twice) as they attack their foe and show their dope EDM prowess in creating a song called “Crystals” which is the saving grace Superman’s homeworld. Thankfully, the soundtrack is available for purchase.
The animation of the movie looks the same as the cartoon which is a delight to all who watch the television show. The voice over talents is all the same. But most importantly, the central theme of the show remains. Even though they are superheroes who “don’t save anything,” The Teen Titans remain a group of kids who are best friends, have each other’s backs (even when they mess up) and just enjoy being with one another. In the end, isn’t that a great message to give to children?
Teen Titans Go! to the Movies is a refreshing breath of new life that has been breathed into the oft-depressing and sometimes grating world of superhero movies. In a world, especially the DC Universe, where the films have to be Shakespearean in scope, Titans is proof that in this case, the Joker was right when he asked: “Why so serious?”
Rated PG, for action and rude humor, Teen Titans Go! to the Movies is the silliest, most insanely hilarious time that any movie has delivered this year. It is fresh, creative and goes all-in from its television roots. Do not go to this movie expecting high cinema but do stay for the post-credit scenes!
Grade: B+