Batman’s sidekick searches for legitimacy B5
Teen Titans use humour to bring messages of authenticity, respect
Teen Titans GO! To the Movies exists in a universe unto itself, but the animated feature shares its world with the superheroes of the D.C. comics, including all of your favourites from the Justice League. In this universe, superheroes not only chase villains (and destroy skyscrapers in the process) but they also recreate their exciting adventures in Hollywood as actors, making their own movies for the benefit of their adoring fans.
In the beginning of the film, every D.C. superhero is invited to a Batman (Jimmy Kimmel) movie première — that is, everyone except for the Titans (Robin, Raven, Beast Boy, Cyborg and Starfire).
Such minor details don’t stop the young crew from crashing the party, however. As trailers for upcoming movies begin, Robin (Scott Menville) becomes convinced that one of the movies is about him. He is Batman’s sidekick, after all. But, of course, that’s not the case, something Robin only discovers after interrupting
the trailer and causing the adults in the audience to laugh at him.
What ensues is Robin’s search for legitimacy and respect. As much as this feels like a version of every first instalment of a superhero series, it’s still nice for a movie to address the impostor syndrome that young people often experience regardless of whether or not they have superpowers.
Just like any beginner, Robin can take so many paths on his journey to becoming a legitimate superhero. But what he decides to do is follow the trajectories of the adult superheroes in his life. The most important superhero trope for Robin becomes finding an arch nemesis. Cue Slade (Will Arnett), who steals magic crystals. Robin’s quest to beat Slade and to turn his triumph into a movie touches on another syndrome — narcissism. The film doesn’t deal with this delicately, touching on a “kids these days” stereotype, and neglecting to mention that many adults have difficulty growing out of this phase as well.
Robin’s me-first tendencies drive wedges between himself and the other Titans. Don’t worry, though. The film isn’t too heavy-handed with its delivery of a message. Instead, audiences get humour targeting both its young audience and the parents who’ll watch it with them.
That’s not necessarily a good thing, however, since most of the kid-friendly jokes involve flatulence. Still, more discerning audience members will get a chuckle or two out of the adult superheroes making fun of the mixed success of D.C. films.
The Titans, as a whole, get their share of punchlines, but that doesn’t hide the fact that Robin is the only fully developed character among them.
The animation quality is mixed. Some segments are too reminiscent of the Saturday morning cartoon esthetic. There was one clever bit, though, during a confrontation between the Titans and Slade. When the latter says things like “MIND MANIPULATION,” those words pop up on screen like it would on an actual comic book panel (or the 1960s Batman TV show).
Audiences who are tired of the laughably gritty tone that the live-action D.C. films have offered will find relief in the levity of Teen Titans GO! To the Movies — and really, in the universe we find ourselves in right now, what more can we ask for?