Not least because I was expecting to be disappointed yet again by another DC animated movie but also because this one features Damian Wayne (arguably the most unlikable Robin of all the Robins) and Jonathon Kent, two of the brattiest, most entitled, kid characters in all of DC.
In yet another world ending plot, the Justice League is compromised by an alien invader, forcing Damien and Jonathon, to set aside their differences in order to save the planet.
I will say this movie is one of the most watchable DC animated movies I've seen in quite some time.
Initially both Damien and Jonathon are every bit as unlikable as they're usually depicted, with Damien being even more unlikable than the last animated movie I bought with him in (which was 2015's Batman Vs Robin).
But I was at least pleasantly surprised that both get easy to follow character arcs over the course of the film and I actually found myself at least more sympathetic to Damien than I've ever been.
Jonathon's fine too, but he's Superman's kid. He's never going to stray too far from his family values and he just doesn't have the same life experience as Damien. Honestly, I get why Damien is depicted as a capable loner who seems to hate everything but just wants acceptance. But it always comes across as your average angsty teen turned up to eleven.
I was also put off from watching this movie because it didn't seem likely there was going to be a whole lot of Batman or Superman in it. While I'm a fan of Robin as an idea (more so than specific Robins) I prefer it when the character is being a sidekick to Batman, working with him, rather than against him.
Jonathon Kent I can take or leave, I'd rather watch a Superman focused story.
Fortunately both Batman and Superman get enough screen time to be actual supporting characters rather than brief cameos or bookends to a kid centric story. The only downside being that they, and all the Justice League, are taken down by their alien foe rather easily, making Damien in particular seem like a master crime fighter and tactician who should be leading the JL.
As I said in my previous review of Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, the voice cast is great, the art and animation is great, and the over all production quality is well done. The overall story is nothing particularly different that you haven't seen before - in fact James Gunn kind of co-opted it for The Suicide Squad in 2021.
The movie's title is kind of click bait but at least the best part of the story is watching the story arc of the Super Sons. As it should be.
If I was going to recommend a recent DC animated movie, this would be on my list. I'm still hoping for an all new but basic Batman and Robin story though. Not everything has to be end of the world stakes.
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