PLOT: Krypto is a Super-Dog, and the pet of famed Superman. Their man-dog relationship is tested by an evil groundhog and his owner’s love interest, Lois Lane.
REVIEW: The beginning of the new flick DC League of Super-Pets will be very familiar to most comic book fans. Or pretty much any human being who has watched a Superman movie, animated series, or read a comic. Directors Jared Stern and Sam Levine have crafted an, at times, adorable superhero adventure, but with pets. The new movie features the vocal talents of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, John Krasinski, Marc Maron, and a hilarious turn from Kate McKinnon as an evil groundhog. And yes, Batman, Green Lantern, Cyborg, Aquaman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and Superman are all featured. It is an engaging hour and forty-five-minute escape, even for the older crowds.
Superman (Krasinski) and his dog Krypto (Johnson) are best friends. They spend all their time together, but one thing appears to be causing some worry. Superman is getting especially chummy with Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde). The problem for the man of steel is that he wants his loyal pup to have friends. And for a loner like Krypto, making friends is not easy because he’s a Super Dog. It all changes for him because of a power hungry groundhog named Lulu (McKinnon). Having worked with the famed villain Lex Luthor (Maron), she’s learned a few things about evil plans. However, Lulu isn’t expecting other animals to benefit from her search for dominance. And when the friendly animals living with her at a shelter also turn, you can probably guess which side they’ll be on.
DC League of Super-Pets works on a few levels. Jared Stern and John Whittington wrote a script that is a nice mix of humor and action, balancing superheroes and cute little animals impressively. There is enough love for the source material to please fans of all ages. And you’ll find a few nuggets spread throughout that add a wink and a nod to old-school fans. The casting of the familiar and famed characters is inspired as well. Krasinski is terrific as Superman. Maron has a blast with Lex Luthor. Perhaps the most underutilized is Jemaine Clement as Aquaman, but still fun. Dascha Polanco as Green Lantern, Daveed Diggs as Cyborg, John Early as The Flash, and Jameela Jamil as Wonder Woman are great choices. And Keanu Reeves is hilarious as Batman.
As for the furry little animals, Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson are well suited to the puppies with power. Vanessa Bayer is always terrific as PJ, a piggy who wants to be as cool as Wonder Woman. Natasha Lyonne is funny as the near-blind turtle Merton. Kevin Hart brings on his wisecracking charm as a dog named Ace. And Diego Luna is a squirrel named Chip, and yes, I have to bring up Kate McKinnon as Lulu once again. She and Bayer steal several moments away from both Johnson and Hart. The cast is strong, and most have a couple of moments to shine. And I have to praise Ben Schwartz and Thomas Middleditch as a couple of groundhogs with opposing powers. Funny stuff right there.
As funny as this animated tale is, it could’ve benefitted from a slightly shorter runtime. While the final act is entertaining, there are times when the action is repetitive. Much like the occasional live-action DC flick, the extra minutes could use a trim. And as much as I enjoyed seeing Superman play with his dog, the story leisurely gets the action going. Even still, once it gets moving, it works rather well. The look of the film is impressive, and the song choices add to the experience. The score, by Steve Jablonsky, brings a sense of doom – as well as whimsy – to this animated tale. Much like The Lego Batman Movie, this humorous take on these characters is an engaging ride to take.
DC League of Super-Pets is an enjoyable take on the modern superhero film. Much like The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie, the tongue-in-cheek nature of the script elevates the material. The cast is impressive, and McKinnon, Bayer, and Reeves are great. Stern and Whittington’s script offers up a funny animated kids flick, yet one that still resonates with older audiences. I’m not sure it worked as well as the previously mentioned Lego flicks, but there’s enough here to put a smile on an audience hoping to laugh a little. Super-Pets has charm and a message of friendship worth sharing. Spending time with these cuddly animals with super strength makes for a fun movie night with the whole family.
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