As anyone can tell you, the film market is flooded with superhero movies, and not all are created equal. Yet one particular area that the genre has yet to really flourish in is that of the animated realm. At least, that's true when it comes to theatrical efforts. So leave it to DC Comics, a studio that's had some problems in the live action arena, to deliver an animated film so irreverent, so hysterical, that it's a better Deadpool movie than Deadpool 2. While it still has its problems with building a totally engaging and coherent story, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is a blast and a half that you can share with your kids.
Tired of being laughed off as inferiors to their more notable super-powered counterparts, the Teen Titans (Tara Strong, Greg Cipes, Khary Payton, Hynden Walch, Scott Menville) decide that they need to convince Hollywood they're worthy of their own movie. To do that, they'll need to follow some key steps, among which is to find an arch nemesis. Getting more than they'd bargained for in the villainous Slade (Will Arnett), the Titans will have to watch their step, as their road to fame isn't all it's cracked up to be.
On the outset, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies looks like a movie that you'd probably write off as merely child's entertainment. This couldn't be further from the truth, as the young crime stoppers engage in humor that's reminiscent of the Animaniacs, as it knowingly winks towards the world of comic films as we know them. Between the on point cameos that are showcased throughout the film, including one pretty spectacular one by Stan Lee, and gags that border on "ask your parents" territory, there's a lot of laughs for kids and parents alike. But should you be a comic fan that doesn't have kids, and hasn't been one for a while, Teen Titans Go! To The Movies is still a comfortable fit.
Unfortunately, while the humor is top notch, there's some slight hiccups when it comes to the storytelling involved in Teen Titans Go! To The Movies. While the source material works similarly plotted outings in a fraction of the time, the Titans' jump to the big screen isn't as strong as it could be. In fact, the plot is a bit of a mess, as it riffs on material that we've seen examined in Deadpool 2 and The Incredibles 2, but to a more episodic extent. Though if your kids are itching to see those Deadpool movies, but you're not ready to let them go that deep in the paint, you can take 'em to see Teen Titans Go! To The Movies with the same results.
When the film finally decides to lock into a trajectory that takes the film from the middle of its second act through to the finale, it really gets going. The audience is left with a mixed bag of results that still manages to bring some really entertaining light to the animation genre. It's not quite the leap that films like The LEGO Batman Movie have given the world of superhero animation, but it's definitely a much-needed laugh in the wake of this year's more downer-centric moments of comic entertainment. DC Comics has always been lightyears ahead of Marvel when it comes to animated thrills, and Teen Titans Go! To The Movies continues that tradition in spades.
