“Teen Titans Go! To the Movies” is nifty little animated production that shows you DC Comics can ‘extend their universe’ by creating a comical superhero movie. These smaller teenaged versions of superheroes can deliver a decent production with some pretty pointed jabs at the big boys (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, etc.). Based on the Cartoon Network animated show, this team of small fry heroes will grab a rung on the ladder that is the DC Franchise, and pull them selves up to the — well maybe not exactly to the top, but it will be close…

All the Teen Titans are led by a young Robin (Scott Menville), known mostly as Batman’s sidekick. But he is joined by other young kids with special powers. There is Beast Boy (Greg Cipes) who can transform into any type of wild beast or animal. There is Cyborg (Khary Payton) who a mechanical human with high-tech powers. Also part of the team are Raven (Tara Strong) who is a half-human, half-demon sorceress and also Starfire (Hynden Walch) – an alien Tamaranian princess with super-human powers. They all hang out together and wait to fight crime.

But because of their ages and size, the regular superheroes never give them much of a chance. The last straw for Robin is when he finds out all the other superheroes are getting their own movie. Even Batman’s butler is going to get a new movie! The producer and director of the big movies is Jade Wilson(Kristen Bell). They all attempt to persuade Wilson to get them into a movie. But she refuses, because they do not have super arch-nemesis. That is someone who is planning for an evil world-changing event – so if they find someone like that and stop that evil-doer, well then, maybe a movie would be in order. 

The next thing you know is that the Teen Titans cross paths with a major super villain who has a complex maniacal plan to rule the people of Earth. This fiend is none other than Deadp… opps, sorry – it just looks a lot like him – This fiend is none other than Slade (Will Arnett). Slade is going to brainwash the whole world into doing his bidding; causing mayhem in the street, robbing banks, disarming police stations, and picking him at the airport on short notice…

Jade Wilson then starts to make the movie about the Teen Titans. But wires get crossed and loyalties get tested. Wilson gets rid of team and only wants to work with and use Robin. But are there some underlying nefarious things that are going on? Is Slade somehow in involved to divide the Teen Titans team and get Robin to deliver some final piece of Slade’s ultimate Earth take-over plan… Will the Teen Titans be able to overcome any differences and unite to fight off a bad dude and prevent global chaos?

This movie is a light and breezy treat of DC Comics cotton candy, as opposed to the usual DCEU movies that are dark foreboding meals of burnt steak and thick ale. But it is more fun to see something fun, so this version could attract a decent audience beyond just kids and teenagers. However, there are plenty of fart and poop jokes. So that way you do not forget that the target is for kids and teenagers. The whole DC Universe is given a nice satirical look, and it evens gets a big NON-DC player into the act. (Enough with the cameos, Stan Lee!)

The voice acting is right on target, and the colors and images on screen are all very vivid. Most of the character voices are from the TV series, but a few big names are brought in. Kristen Bell does a good job with Jade Wilson, and Will Arnett is totally funny when he is voicing Slade. There is also a wonderful bit of trivia cameo. Back in the 80’s Nicolas Cage was considered for the role as Superman. But now, Cage does get a chance to lend his voice-over to get this done. Good job, Teen Titans! You have righted a wrong in this universe!

“Eighth Grade” is a wonderfully and lovingly created movie about a young girl’s final week in – well – eighth grade. Bo Burnham is best known as being a comedian and a You Tube celebrity. But now he can add to that list being a screenwriter and director. This is his effort to bring some of his own middle school experiences to the big screen, and it goes straight to the head of the class.

Kayla Day (Elsie Fisher) is the soon-to-be middle school graduate, ready to take her unsteady steps into high school. During the last week of classes, Kayla is looking for the self-confidence to make her time in eighth grade stand for something. She is voted ‘Most Quiet’ student, which she thinks is just really so wrong. But she is afraid to say anything about it. She creates many You Tube videos about being self-confident and being true to your self.  But she is nervous and skittish is many real life situations.

Kayla gets an invite to a classmate’s birthday pool bash. But with a very plain figure and rough skin, she does not feel as pretty as the other girls. Her dad (Josh Hamilton) is always there for her, and being a single dad, he also understands some of the awkwardness of Kayla. She appreciates him, but he is always too clingy and wants to talk about how she is doing. She spends her time mostly staring at her phone and laptop, getting absorbed into social media.

There is a high school ‘shadow’ day, where the eighth graders go to the new school and tag after a senior. She gets paired up with Olivia (Emily Robinson) who is super nice to Kayla and even invites her to hang out at the mall with her friends. She feels even more awkward when she spots her dad hanging around spying on her. Her dad leaves her alone, so she needs to get a ride home from Olivia’s friend. He stops the car and becomes a little too aggressive with her. But she stands up for her self and tells him to stop.

She later has a real heart-to-heart talk with her dad at home. She says how she must disappoint him all the time. But he tells her it is the opposite. Kayla has been the reason he has been able to overcome his own fears and misgivings. Since her mom left when she was young, her dad has been a guiding influence for Kayla. But he tells her that she has taught him how to grow and how to live your best life.

The story is simple and straightforward, but it leaves a lot of room for the subtle display of a young girl’s life becoming richer and deeper. Bo Burnham has constructed a real world of middle school, filled with characters that all seem familiar. But the shining star is Elsie Fisher, who takes the awkward unease of Kayla and makes it a living and breathing thing. Her portrayal is bold and honest, unafraid of being plain and real in a world with too many Secrets from Victoria’s.

The Kayla character reminded me so much of the much younger girl character named Olive from the movie “Little Miss Sunshine”. If Olive had grown up and then went to middle school, I could see her be a person just like Kayla. This movie is also unique, since there are so many other movies that concentrate on high school kids. This might be one of the few movies that center the main character in eighth grade.

*Opens in Phoenix area exclusively at Harkins Camelview @ Fashion Square

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