Can ‘Teen Titans Go! To the Movies’ defy its haters?

One of the most talked about animated series of recent years is finally being brought to the big screen with “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.” While “Teen Titans Go!” has proven to be one of Cartoon Networks biggest hits with newer generations, older fans of the critically acclaimed 2003 “Teen Titans” series have ripped the new show to shreds, often hating on the juvenile approach to the humor and the beloved characters. So, can these Titans translate better in the big screen?

The story focuses on leader of the Teen Titans, Robin, who seeks to have his own superhero film made about himself given the mass appeal the genre has received. But his attempts are turned down given that the public finds it hard to take him or his team seriously. But when a new villian named Slade shows up to cause terror, the Titans suit up to make him their arch nemesis, hoping that it will help change their image.

To put it simply, if you like the show, then this film will give you what you want. If you don’t, then while this film is unlikely to change your opinion, there is still bound to be something worth taking away from it.

Like the series, the humor combines plenty of juvenile jokes with a hearty amount of meta humor. The jokes aimed for kids are very noticeable and mostly harmless, but there are a few gags that do out stay their welcome. The self aware/referential humor can also have its duds, but a good majority of them work surprisingly well. Obviously, as one could imagine from the premise, a lot of the humor does make fun of the “Teen Titans Go!” series, but there are also a number of jokes and references regarding the DC Universe, the Marvel films, the state of Hollywood and plenty of other films from “Back to the Future” to “The Lion King.”

The characters presented drive the film equally as much as the humor. While the majority of the Titans’ scenes are either used for jokes, musical numbers or action scenes, there are a few small moments where their team dynamic is challenged. The results, while predictable, does give the film a decent amount of heart. The villain, Slade, is also mainly used for humor, but came off as a legit threat by the end. His hilariously clever plan is also one of the film’s highlights.

The animation is a mixed bag. The film makes no huge effort to upgrade the show’s style to be fit for a feature film, resulting in the same limited character animation and simplistic character designs as you’d see from the series.

The backgrounds and overall color palette are particularly well done, and the action sequences are surprisingly well-handled. The filmmakers also play around with the visual style several times throughout the film, from Disney to stop motion to Bruce Timm.

Another issue that older fans might find annoying is that the pacing can be rather chaotic. The film rarely takes the time to slow down and let emotions or atmosphere settle in, which would have been a nice change of pace to see for the series. Rather, it takes large chunks of time to zip around and tell jokes, which can prove irritating at some points. Particularly one part during the middle of the film that, while funny and surprisingly dark, leaves no impact on the story whatsoever.

At the end, “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies” isn’t going to convert any long time haters into die-hard fans, but it is nonetheless a harmless, energetic and rather funny film. For viewers who enjoyed films such as “The LEGO Batman Movie,” this was more or less the same experience.