Justice League vs. Teen Titans
By Brian Costello,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Animated violence, demonic imagery in solid DC installment.
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Justice League vs. Teen Titans
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Based on 2 parent reviews
OK DC FILM
What's the Story?
In JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. TEEN TITANS, the superdemon Trigon has sent a demon to Earth, culminating in a battle between the Justice League and Legion of Doom. Angered over being relegated to a menial position during the battle, young Damian (Stuart Allan) ignores Batman's orders and takes part in the battle, stopping the demon but not giving Batman and the others a chance to find out more about it. Angered at Damian's insolence, Batman sends him to be trained under Starfire with the Teen Titans. Damian hates it, and believes himself to be a stronger and more capable fighter than both his new peers and also his instructor, until a fight with the Blue Beetle knocks him out. Raven saves his life, and as she uses her healing powers to save him, they both get glimpses into each other's lives. Meanwhile, another demonic being is sent to attack, and possesses Superman, who reveals that the demon is after "the girl." Superman escapes, and Batman and Cyborg (Shemar Moore) go off in search of who this girl may be. As Starfire takes the Teen Titans to the fair with the hopes that they can bond and become friends, the demon appears and attacks Raven. After the Teen Titans stop the demon, Raven reveals why the demon is after her, and reveals to them for the first time her backstory, and her relationship. While they understand why the demon is there, Cyborg, Flash, and Wonder Woman (Rosario Dawson) have also become possessed, and it's up to the Teen Titans to save them.
Is It Any Good?
While best for those familiar with the DCU, Justice League vs. Teen Titans, unlike some of the other DC movies, is accessible for those who aren't superfans. Besides the action, there are coming-of-age scenes involving Raven and Damian that are relatable in some ways. Not in, say, origin stories involving demons, interdimensional realms, and the like, but in simply growing up, finding friends and community, fitting in, and not fitting in. To drive this home, there's an amusing montage at the local fairgrounds (with an emo song as the soundtrack) showing the Teen Titans crushing the ring toss and strongman contests, and culminating in a fierce Dance Dance Revolution battle between Beast Boy and Damian. After so much heavy talk in these movies about good versus evil, civilization vs. chaos, the often-blurred lines between good and evil etc., it's a welcome bit of comic relief.
It's a slightly deceptive title, as the Teen Titans are actually fighting possessed versions of most of the Justice League, but even so, it doesn't come across as a gimmick. The movie strikes a nice balance between action, backstory, and character development. While there seem to be plenty of inside jokes and references for the DCU obsessives, it isn't a requirement for enjoying it. The action and conflict are plentiful, and while focused more on Raven and Damian than the others, it's easy to follow and doesn't require firsthand knowledge (or access to Google within arm's reach) to have a sense of what's at stake for each character.
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Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about animated violence. How much is too much? Does it encourage violent behavior, or is it a necessary part of the story? Why?
How does Damian's character change over time? How do the other Teen Titans use empathy to try to understand why Damian behaves the way he does around them, especially when he first arrives?
How are the depictions of these superheroes similar to and different from how they've been shown in other movies, cartoons, comic books?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: March 29, 2016
- Cast: Rosario Dawson , Christopher Gorham , Shemar Moore
- Director: Sam Liu
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Black actors, Indigenous actors, Latino actors
- Studio: DC Entertainment
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Superheroes , Adventures , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 78 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: fantasy action violence and some suggestive images.
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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