I get it, fellow millennials, you hate what they did to your beloved Teen Titans. Yes, the original cartoon that ran from 2003 to 2006 was a fantastic, anime inspired, action show. But, have you actually watched Teen Titans Go? This goofy, comedic retooling is actually pretty hilarious. And if you can put your saltiness aside for an hour and a half, you’ll find that this movie adaptation of the popular Cartoon Network series is actually a lot of ridiculous fun, too.
Robin (Scott Menville), Starfire (Hynden Walch), Cyborg (Khary Payton), Beast Boy (Greg Cipes), and Raven (Tara Strong) are determined to prove to the Justice League and the rest of the world, that they are more than just a group of quirky sidekicks. Robin also wants to show a Hollywood superhero movie director (Kristen Bell) that he and his team are worthy of a big screen adaptation like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The arrival of villain Slade Wilson (Will Arnett), might just be their big chance if they can take crime fighting seriously.
Teen Titans Go to the Movies knows exactly what it is, and it flings its wild style of animation and outlandish brand of comedy at the audience with no apologies. In many ways, it acts as a kid friendly version of Deadpool, throwing in fourth wall breaks and poking fun at the DC universe and the superhero genre as a whole. From surprise cameos, to several hilarious musical numbers that rival “Pyramid Mummy Money” and “Catching Villains” (Google it), the movie manages to play out like a classic episode of Spongebob.
Make no mistake, this movie is made for the current generation of youngsters who enjoy the show. But there is enough clever humor involved that folks of all ages should be left grinning throughout. And for nerds like me, who know obscure DC characters like The Challengers of the Unknown, there is enough references to find subtle comedic moments. It even goes out of its way to throw fans of the original show a bone with an interesting mid-credits scene. So, yes… Teen Titans Go! does make a mockery out of your favorite action cartoon. But instead of being an old curmudgeon about it, just sit back and enjoy the tongue and cheek fun.
FINAL GRADE: B
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