Teen Titans Go! To the Movies

“You don’t have to be super to be a hero – you just have to be yourself,” declares the protagonist, Robin, at the end of Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. With a wild plot and plenty of pathos, the flick tries to teach children about the power and importance of friendship. Although it has good intentions, the film tends to be over ambitious, trying to be funny, dramatic and edifying all at once.

Robin respects superheroes such as Superman and Wonder Woman, who have all starred in their own films. However, none of these champions take him and his friends – Raven, Starfire, Cyborg and Beast Boy – seriously, as they are teenagers. So Robin tries to get a director to make a movie about him. His friends help him unconditionally, even when he abandons them in hopes of being respected. They instantly forgive him, which may be seen as a lesson that true friendship can survive anything. However, his immediate exoneration may teach children that friends should and will always forgive each other’s wrongdoings.

Alongside the usual slew of potty humour, self-aware jokes are cracked that will have adults giggling too. At the end of the film, our protagonist begins explaining the moral of the story to the audience, but he is shushed by the other characters, who want to roll the credits. Robin then says, “Fine, but kids, ask your parents where babies come from”. How’s that for an ending line?

However, the constant return to humour can prove annoying. Although many of the jokes are clever in their disruption of the fourth wall, some seem unnecessary. For example, Beast Boy’s incorrect grammar is just pointless and distracting. Additionally, Starfire’s unique way of speaking is unbearable by the end: “I want popcorn” becomes “I the want the popped of corn”.

For all its mishaps, the movie is also full of genuine emotion and moral lessons. The adult superheroes’ prejudice and dismissal of the Titans is a classic example of ageism that adolescents everywhere can relate to, and the picture does have some very important lessons about valuing friendship over fame, and embracing one’s differences. All in all, despite its occasional flaws, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies’s humour and suspense will captivate viewers, and will likely be played on repeat for children everywhere.

Laura Boyle

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies is released nationwide on 3^rd August 2018.

Watch the trailer for Teen Titans Go! To the Movies here: