Review: 'Teen Titans Go! To the Movies' pokes fun at superheroes
Robin and his pals set out to get a movie of their own in this meta riff on the superhero genre
Since irreverent and self-referential is the default setting for much of today's irony soaked humor landscape, it makes sense that "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies" is a superhero film that comments on our obsession with superhero films while going about the business of being a superhero film.
Call it "Deadpool" for the kiddie set, and "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies," despite falling under the DC Comics banner, has no problem invoking Deadpool jokes, even though he comes from rival Marvel comic universe. Even Stan Lee makes an (animated) cameo as himself, because everything is on the table here to be laughed at and made fun of, including in-house DC properties, the self-importance of superheros and the entire superhero genre.
"Teen Titans Go! To the Movies" is based on Cartoon Network's "Teen Titans Go!" TV series, which has been airing since 2013 and is sort of like "Muppet Babies" for the superhero world.
Batman sidekick Robin (voice of Scott Menville), forever tired of living in Batman's shadow, wonders why every superhero has a movie except him and his pals Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven and Starfire. They storm the Warner Bros. lot and demand their own movie, which leads to lessons about ego and self-importance, and no shortage of flatulence and potty-based jokes.
"Teen Titans Go! To the Movies" is brightly animated, moves at a brisk pace and is plenty funny. It is aimed at elementary schoolers, but is sharp and light enough that any fan of the superhero genre will enjoy its take on the comic universe and its pokes at superhero conventions. Since this is the world we live in, we might as well have some fun with it.
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'Teen Titans Go! To the Movies'
GRADE: B
Rated PG for action and rude humor
Running time: 92 minutes