It’s been a while since we’ve had an animated movie on the WATC(H) and it looks like we’ll have a couple in a row to contend with before returning to more Cage video-on-demand offerings. 

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018) is a Cartoon Network / DC comics produced film targeting kids ages 7+. While I am familiar with the adult version of Titans starring Robin, Cyborg, Starfire and others, I was not familiar with this kids cartoon before watching it. It’s whimsical, satirical, and self-referential, but still firmly targeting a pretty young audience. I’m sure I would have been a fan of the cartoon series when my children were younger had it been available then, but it was well after their time.

The fact that Nicolas Cage provides the voicing for Superman is not a coincidence given his history with the character. There’s a whole story about how he was supposed to be cast in the role of Superman in a 90s Timothy Burton produced live action movie titled, Superman Lives. The film never came to be but gets some nods (thanks to CGI) in The Flash 2023. This is the only time we see Nicolas Cage as Superman OTHER THAN in this animated format.  

But hey, we’ll take him however we get him right.

The World According to Nicolas Cage as The Man of Steel

In Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, Superman (Nicolas Cage) plays a bully. Well, maybe not a bully as much as an overbearing older brother type. The plot (as much as a kid’s movie about teenaged super heroes can have a plot) is really about Robin, the quintessential sidekick, and his desire to be a full-fledged super hero.  He, and his band, of super teens (The Teen Titans) are seeking some street cred amongst the super hero community. Unfortunately, the Teen Titans are seen as a lacking: 1) maturity (lots of fart and diarrhea jokes), 2) a true arch-nemesis, 3) their own super hero movie, and 4) an acknowledged “save” (or persons, places, or things).  

Robin and his gang are constantly being overshadowed by more established super heroes like The Justice League and its individual members (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern). 

So, Superman is pretty vocal in his criticism of Robin / Teen Titans and kind of comes off as a bully.

He likes to say things to them like:

“You guys are…goofsters!” 

“Why do you think there’s never been a movie made about you?” 

“Problem is, you guys never do anything..HeRoiC.” 

“Titans, if you keep playing the fool, you’ll never be seen as real heroes. Only as jokes.” 

Robin and the Teen Titans of course are discouraged by these words and seek to change the script / their reputation. They attempt (at first) to legitimize their heroedom by getting a movie deal of their own, but get passed over for movies made about the most mundane of topics including Alfred the Butler and Batman’s utility belt (ha!) 

The Teen Titans then try to establish an arch-nemesis in defeating Slade, a.k.a. Deathstroke, (voiced wonderfully by Will Arnet) but mostly fail at that as well since he is so artful in the power of Mind Manipulation. 

When getting a movie and an arch-nemesis both fail to deliver the hero status, Robin and crew decide to travel back in time and re-write the hero origin stories to nullify the heroes before they are established. Unfortunately, this also leads to problem as super villains fill the void left behind by the heroes. 

Finally, Robin is convinced to ditch his crew (and is manipulated by a disguised Slade) in promises of a Robin movie, and helps build a Doomsday machine that actually works as mind control device on the super hero community / world. Understanding his need for a team, he reunites with the Teen Titans and they use their unique skill-set (mostly singing rap style songs) to defeat Slade and reverse the mind control affects on the Justice League and global community. 

Overall, the show is mostly harmless and even has a few LOL moments.  By the end, even Super (Bully) Man has changed his tune when it comes to Robin and the Teen Titans, ““Hey, I guess you aren’t such goofsters after all.” 

Notable Moments

As I have mentioned this is a show for children, but there are some clever and creative tie-ins to comic book culture and pop references. I laughed a few times and appreciated the self-referential style of the humor. Here’s a few things I appreciated or noticed:

• Lots of nods to the Marvel Universe, as if DC recognizes that they are kind of the “little brother” in this situation and own it. Examples: Stan Lee keeps making cameos until Robin tells him they don’t have time for it right now. Teen Titans get mistaken for Guardians of the Galaxy and Slade gets mistaken for Deadpool. Both mistaken identities get a bit salty about it.
• Throwing shade at dumb comc book characters from the past. The Flash’s arch-nemesis Rainbow Rider, “He rides on rainbows. That is pretty scary.”
• The Lion King scene animated in a similar style to the Disney classic but replacing the animals for different characters from DC universe. Batman was lifting baby Robin up like Simba. 
• After the Teen Titans waylaid Superman using Kryptonite, Robin makes an insider joke about Nicolas Cage reference: “Titans why did you do that to Superman? He’s a National Treasure.”
• During one of the many musical numbers, a rock n roll Tiger (who I think I vaguely recognize from something else from the 90s) sings an “Upbeat Inspirational Song About Life”

(The Tiger is voiced by Michael Bolton. Epic. And he gets hit by the car the Teen Titans are driving at the end.)

• Will Arnet as Slade is pretty funny throughout the film, especially his digressions about his mask being sweaty. I can’t ever here him and not think of his character of GOB from Arrested Development.
• Robin’s superhero catch phrase, “Crack an egg on it. KAAAAWWWWW.” 
• The scene where Batman is chasing the Teen Titans as they methodically destroy his vehicles, first in the batmobile, then on a scooter, then on roller skates, then being piggybacked on Alfred’s back.
• Other guest voices of note: Wonder Woman (Halsey) and Green Lantern (Lil Yachty) and Batman (Jimmy Kimmel)

First for Nicolas Cage as Superman

• First time getting to play The Man of Steal
• Belittling sidekicks
• Using frosty breath to freeze a friend (to steal his hotdog)
• Eating a hotdog
• Getting hit in the face with a rubber chicken
• Hugging Batman
• Getting prank called by his girlfriend
• Debilitated by Kryptonite
• Destroying a golf cart with his body

Recurrences

• On a movie set (Adaptation.)
• Voicing a children’s movie co-starring Will Arnet (G-Force)
• Playing a comic book hero / anti-hero (Ghost Rider 1 & 2, Kick Ass)

Quotables

“Well it is important to have dreams I guess.” 

“That wasn’t even a crime and you didn’t save anything.”

“Somebody save me.”

“Anyway, we’ve got to get going, Ta-Ta!”

“He’s just a sidekick.” 

“Well Hello Lois. How are you, my sweet little dewdrop?” 

“How are you going to get past me…I mean…” [Showcasing his pecs with one hand]

“Slay-duh.”

Conclusion

It’s unfortunate that Superman Lives was never made. I’d love to see Nicolas Cage playing the Man of Steel and I’m sure his Clark Kent would be as nasally and geeky as they come. I guess if we can’t have that, we’ll have to settle for these animated and CGI cameo versions. In our next film, we’ll move from DC over to the Marvel side of the house with a great animated feature showcasing America’s favorite webslinger. I think you know the one.