DC League Of Super-Pets (2022)

By: Mike Ward on Friday, July 29

PG Running Time: 106 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

  • This is a novel concept - a look at the pets of the superheroes and not really the superheroes themselves.

  • The movie is cute, charming and funny at times; will entertain kids and satisfy adults and older kids watching.

  • A very impressive voiceover cast elevates the material and infuses their characters with personality and humor,

NO

  • If you are exhausted with anything connected to, or relating to superheroes, even cute animated pet dogs, turtles, squirrels, and potbellied pigs are not going to flip the switch for you. At least not this time around.

  • Really drags in the middle minutes. The action sequences, through animated vividly and well executed, are the least interesting elements of the film.

  • You have a personal ban against “cartoons” and won’t watch anything animated. Or something.


OUR REVIEW

In their many appearances together, Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart seldom disappoint. Whether they are better than the movies built for them (Central Intelligence), or amplify movies built around them (the recent Jumanji reboots), or even find themselves coerced into participating in the latest TikTok social media fad known as “ The Tortilla Challenge,” the friendship they share, and the chemistry they have with each other is undeniable.

As the leads of the superhero-adjacent, animated spin-off, DC League of Super-Pets, it helps that each actor is likewise an established and acclaimed voiceover talent. Johnson takes the lead, voicing Krypto the Superdog, four-footed companion to Superman (John Krasinski). Their pairing, created when then-puppy Krypto jumped into the ship sending baby Kal-El to Earth, prior to Krypton’s demise, has developed into a bond for life. Or so Krypto thinks. Superman, a/k/a Kal-El and a/k/a Clark Kent, has fallen hard for reporter Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde). With the possibility of an engagement on the horizon, Krypto is afraid he will be replaced, surging his jealousy, fear, and anxiety out of control.

Elsewhere, Ace (Hart), a boxer, is one of a handful of animals kept at the Tailhuggers Animal Shelter, waiting for adoption. Ace wants to bounce and escape, still sad from being turned into the shelter from his previous family. He is likewise tired of always being passed over for other animals who arrive as quickly as they depart. Worlds collide when Clark, considering getting his dog a new friend, stumbles into arch-nemesis Lex Luthor (Marc Maron) trying yet again to become the all-powerful ruler of the universe. Soon, Krypto and Ace cross paths, rambunctious guinea pig Lulu (Kate McKinnon) acquires some of the kryptonite that Luthor brought to earth, and instantly uses newfound powers for nefarious means.

Among those roped into the chaos, shelter animals Merton (Natasha Lyonne), an older turtle, a potbellied pig named PB (Vanessa Bayer), Chip (Diego Luna), a fiery red squirrel, and two chipmunks, Keith and Mark (Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz). As Lulu’s possession of the mineral eliminates Krypto’s powers, Ace and the shelter animals see new superpowers develop within themselves. With their newly discovered abilities, Ace and his shelter friends vow to stop Lulu’s grand plans.

Once the particulars of the conflict kick in, DC League of Super-Pets soon loses the novelty of super-pets acting like superheroes and devolves into just another garden variety, run-of-the-mill, comedic, animated action film. Using characters first found in DC’s “Legion of Super-Pets” comics series, the film has been cast very well - with a tremendous lineup of talent infusing distinctive personality into all of these characters. Though the film has moments of frivolity and humor, the screenplay from director Jared Stern and John Whittington plays so predictable, the film is dependent on the larger-than-life personas created by Johnson, Hart, and McKinnon to keep this “League” afloat.

Luckily, they are more than capable of doing the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping us engaged. Stern and Whittington find space to add in some momentary delights - a kitten named Whiskers (Winona Bradshaw) is hilarious for the couple of moments we see them. One-liners and quick puns find their way through the dust-ups of the fairly routine action sequences. Keanu Reeves steals the show as Batman, perfectly capturing the now trademark super-serious, gravel-rich voice with zero sense of humor. Reeves is quite terrific here.

Truth be told, you (and your kids) have seen variations of this movie countless times before. Substitute animated pets for live-action superheroes trying to vanquish a villain and save mankind and there’s nothing really unique or clever on display. The animation is crisp and colorful, but far from groundbreaking. The action sequences move efficiently, but just aren’t all that interesting. Will kids care? Probably not. Between Marvel and DC, and whatever else crosses their paths with video games, streaming programs and social media, the film is equally as entertaining as it is largely disposable. 

With that said, though the film spins its wheels quite a bit, DC League of Super-Pets has some winning moments. And it is pretty charming at the end of the day. Naturally, this sets up for a sequel (or perhaps even a series) and without a doubt, the film will move a lot of toys and merchandise between now and the holiday season.

And even if this entire endeavor underwhelms you, we always have Johnson and Hart vibing and riffing with each other. Like two old friends bickering on a porch or sitting on some steps somewhere. As Krypto and Ace, they make one dynamic duo. Toss in Kate McKinnon’s zeal and vigor, and the film turns out to be a lot more fun than it truly has any right to be.

CAST & CREW

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Marc Maron, Keanu Reeves, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Schwartz, Olivia Wilde, Maya Erskine, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jameela Jamil, Jemaine Clement, John Early, Dascha Polanco, Daveed Diggs, Alfred Molina, Lena Headey, Keith David, Busy Philipps, Dan Fogler, Winona Bradshaw

Director: Jared Stern
Co-Director: Sam J. Levine
Written by: Jared Stern, John Whittington
Based on the DC Comics series, “Legion of Super-Pets”, created by Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan
Release Date: July 29, 2022
Warner Bros.