Almost in response to the immense recognition of superhero motion pictures, TV’s animated Teen Titans invade the movie display to poke enjoyable on the style and its tropes, spawn foolish catchphrases and finally inform a narrative concerning the heroic act of accepting your self.

The film manages to supply one thing to every of the varied kinds of followers who would possibly discover themselves within the glow of the big-screen Titans. It balances surface-level silliness, corresponding to poop and fart jokes for younger viewers, with fan-pleasing references to the present in addition to normal superhero canon that can make even essentially the most essential grownup fanboy crack a smile. Some blink-and-you’ll-miss-‘em references embody nods to Young Justice, the 1978 Superman film, Red Hood and the Lazarus Pits, to call just a few. But even informal superhero film followers will admire a scene by which Stan Lee (voicing himself) hams it up by making a cameo, a traditional behavior in Marvel motion pictures, earlier than realizing that this isn’t really a Marvel film. Another sensible winking reference was casting Nicolas Cage to voice Superman — Cage famously was virtually forged because the Last Son of Krypton in a scrapped live-action ‘90s film.

Those acquainted with the shenanigans of Teen Titans Go!, itself a foolish and stylized spinoff of the unique and extra dramatic Teen Titans sequence that ran on Cartoon Network from 2003-06, shall be delighted with inside jokes and nods to the present, together with references to Robin’s booty dance and child fingers, Cyborg’s waffles, Beast Boy’s burritos, Starfire’s love of kittens and Raven’s barely contained darkish aspect.

The present’s fashion, twisted humor, various animation kinds and use of musical numbers all efficiently translate to the large display. The added manufacturing finances and run time permits the film to riff much more with one-off scenes, corresponding to an elaborate Lion King-inspired dream for Robin that delights regardless of not advancing the plot within the slightest. And very similar to the present’s profitable use of Fall Out Boy within the four-part season 4 finale of Teen Titans Go!, Go! To the Movies neatly recruits the skills of ballad chanteur Michael Bolton for the successful parody track Upbeat Inspirational Song About Life. Once once more, the quantity is an entertaining detour, accompanied by animation that appears like a Lisa Frank fever dream.

In between all of the catchy musical numbers is the story of workforce chief Robin’s need to attain the final word signal of success and respect for a superhero: to get his personal film. Robin’s quest for legitimacy and validation within the eyes father determine Batman, and the world at massive, has been explored all through the TV sequence, with this film serving as a end result of one among Robin’s main story arcs on the present. In Go! To the Movies, superhero motion pictures are finally portrayed as a distraction from the evils happening on this planet and trigger heroes to change into extra centered on themselves, their very own photographs and seeing their identify in lights. Ultimately, the Titans discover victory and happiness by means of embracing their individuality and banding collectively of their weirdness.

While the laughs wane within the film’s house stretch and the essential plot is telegraphed from a mile away, the film is self-aware of its personal cheesiness and manages to finish on a intelligent notice, adopted by a reference to an upcoming return of the unique Teen Titans iteration—the proper cherry on high for long-time followers. While not a monumental must-see, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is a intelligent, irreverent and refreshing riff on the superhero film panorama.