As it became apparent during the Warner Brother panel at the San Diego Comic-Con, the DC films have undergone a rather major shift. The trailers for Shazam and Aquaman are vibrant, colorful, fun looking movies that are clearly getting away from the much derided “dark and gritty” reimaginings that their films have been trying to capture since the success of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. And while not everyone has gotten the memo, since the new DC streaming show, Titans, has been the punchline of many jokes since its trailer premiered early last week. But while we have that unfortunate looking thing in the horizon, there’s a notably different take on the Teen Titans heading to the big screen, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies.
Based on the Cartoon Network series of mostly the same name, the film follows the struggle of the superhero group, which consists of Robin (Scott Menville), Cyborg (Khary Payton), Starfire (Hynden Walch), Raven (Tara Strong), and Beast Boy (Greg Cipes), to be taken seriously as heroes. Robin in particular is in need of that validation through the only way he thinks will make it possible – by starring in his own superhero movie. But to be great heroes, they need an arch nemesis, which they quickly find in Slade aka Deathstroke (Will Arnett). Hilarity ensues.
While I wasn’t much of a viewer, I was aware of the original Teen Titans show, and the investment a lot of fans had in Young Justice, which offered a more mature take on the characters. I also noticed the uproar that occurred when Teen Titans Go first hit the air. I don’t know if the film, which is written by Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath, and directed by Horvath and Peter Rida Mitchell, is totally reflective of what the show was like, but if it is, it’s really damn good.
At this point, audiences are no strangers to superhero movies made with a self-aware sense of humor, given the success of the two Deadpool movies. While I enjoyed Deadpool 2 fine, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies gave me way more of the kind of relentlessly biting meta humor that I get a huge kick out of. The movie throws so many gags and references, both obvious and obscure, at such a rate that it’s almost overwhelming. It’ll go from making a jab at the Green Lantern movie, to making reference to Tim Burton’s failed Superman movie by having Nicolas Cage voice Superman, to an extended gag involving the Challengers of the Unknown, which is all kinds of amazing. I could’ve done without the toilet humor, but they’re only featured in three scenes at the most.
Of course, it doesn’t just make references just for the sake of it. There is a context to it, and the movie is filled with so many small details that essentially satirizes our pop culture obsession with superheroes. Without giving anything away, the villain’s ultimate plan actually hinges on the fact that everyone in the world watches superhero movies. It doesn’t simply pay lip service to some superhero tropes before indulging on other tropes minutes later, I’m looking at you, Deadpool. The film just does a wonderful job at trolling the genre, and the industry that tries to capitalize on it. It’s almost to the point where it nearly comes across as angry if it weren’t for all the jokes.
The film also continues my favorite Warner Bros Animation tradition, which is making the cartoon characters behave in exceptionally cruel ways. There are multiple points where the team either beats someone to a pulp, or straight up murders someone for the sake of a gag. It’s incredible. There’s one moment involving Bruce Wayne’s parents that had me in tears because it was so clever and hilarious.
I also love seeing a mainstream animated release that actually utilizes a cast of proper voice talent. The same actors from the show are kept in their roles, with the only celebrity additions being Will Arnett and Kristen Bell, plus some minor cameos here and there with the other superheroes. There are even some really catchy songs, including one particularly inspired number performed by Michael Bolton.
Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is the real deal. It’s a postmodern riff on the superhero genre that keeps you so distracted by its bright colors and wacky sensibilities that you don’t realize the playful jabs actually pack a really hard punch. It’s willing to go to some strange places, and that unhinged quality leads to moments are as hilarious as they are shocking. It’s just a blast from beginning to end, and it keeps things moving at a fast, tight pace, and all just under 90 minutes. If you’re even a casual fan of superheroes and DC Comics, this is a fun treat.