Is this the most important DC movie out there right now? Most would say no because it’s animated and for kids, but I would disagree, I believe this film is exactly what every hard-core comic book fan should watch. If you have ever witnessed or taken part in a Marvel vs DC argument or feel that the DCEU was too dark then I strongly recommend watching this movie.
Teen Titans Go is a cartoon tailored to kids but nowadays animation always has elements aimed at adults because who takes the kids to the cinema? Who owns the TV the kids are watching? I think it was really the Simpson’s who first mastered the art of appealing to the whole family with childish comedy layered with adult innuendo and socially relevant references. Teen Titans Go To The Movies does this in such a specific way commenting on the comic book movie history dating back from before most the target audience was born that it can’t be anything but specifically talking to the parents who are watching this film with their kids.
This movie is so unique in what it has done that the only comparison I can come up with is that this is like a kid friendly animated DC equivalent of Deadpool. That still does not give it the justice it deserves as Deadpool only scratches the surface of mocking the Fox side of Marvel and has 1 negative comment about DC when he says to cable in Deadpool 2 “Your so dark, you sure your not from the DC Universe”. Teen Titans refers to Marvel a lot more but also in a much more positive manner, for example towards the start of the film the Inflated Destroyer says he knows who the Guardians of the Galaxy are but not the teen titans.
DC admits in this film that it took them a long time to finally release a Wonder Woman movie which proved to be a huge success and paved the way for more female super hero movies, Marvel are still 2 years behind with Captain Marvel not due in cinemas till 2019.
One of my favourite scenes from the movie is when Green Lantern says “I even had a movie once, but we don’t talk about it” which proves that DC understands it didn’t hit the expectation of its fans. There are so many other great scenes in this movie that the young target audience won’t even understand such as Batman and Superman comparing their fathers names and a reference to Gene Hackman being in a Superman movie.
The voice talent also has hidden treats for the older fans like Nicholas Cage as Superman. You may or may not know but he was lined up to play Superman in the infamous Superman Lives movie which was never made but written by Nerd icon Kevin Smith. We have the masterminds behind the TV show Robin Voiced by Scott Menville, Beast Boy voiced by Greg Cipes, Cyborg is voiced by Khary Payton who is now a familiar face on TV as King Ezekiel in The Walking Dead, Tara Strong, who needs no introduction to any DC animation fan, is the voice of Raven and finally Hynden Walch who you might recognise as the voice of Princess Bubble Gum from Adventure Time. Will Arnett who is the voice of Batman in the Lego movies is on board also but not as Batman, he provides the voice of the villain Slade, Batman voice is long-term high-profile Batman fan Jimmy Kimmel.
I really believe that the climate we are in right now with the DCEU changing direction, release the Snyder cut campaign and the ins and outs of big-name staff and actors this movie has the power to rebuild your confidence in a brand we have come to love. It could also reassure you that they do care about the fans and that they listen but if nothing else you will have some fun for 90 minutes and who can argue with that.
If you’re a fan of DC comics, let’s face it you probably are if your reading this, please watch this movie I’m certain you won’t be disappointed. Either way, let me know on Twitter what you think.
Teen Titans Go to the Movies is out on Blu Ray / DVD & Digital now.
Movie synopsis as per Warner Brothers website “It seems to the Teens that all the major superheroes out there are starring in their own movies—everyone but the Teen Titans, that is! But de facto leader Robin is determined to remedy the situation, and be seen as a star instead of a sidekick. If only they could get the hottest Hollywood film director to notice them. With a few madcap ideas and a song in their heart, the Teen Titans head to Tinsel Town, certain to pull off their dream. But when the group is radically misdirected by a seriously Super-Villain and his maniacal plan to take over the Earth, things really go awry. The team finds their friendship and their fighting spirit failing, putting the very fate of the Teen Titans themselves on the line!”
