Who let the Super-Dogs out?
In a world dominated by caped crusaders and maniacal villains, sometimes it takes a pack of paw-some pets to save the day. But does DC League of Super-Pets really have the bite to match its bark, or is just DC’s answer to a question nobody asked about Paw Patrol?
Krypto (Dwayne Johnson), Superman’s loyal and super-powered canine companion, faces his greatest challenge when his owner is kidnapped. To rescue the Man of Steel (John Krasinski), Krypto must team up with a group of shelter animals who suddenly acquire superpowers: Ace the hound (Kevin Hart), PB the pig (Vanessa Bayer), Merton the turtle (Natasha Lyonne), and Chip the squirrel (Diego Luna). This ragtag team must thwart the evil plans of Lulu (Kate McKinnon), a villainous guinea pig with aspirations as grandiose as any would-be world conqueror.
Taking a leaf from erstwhile InGen chairman John Hammond, the makers of DC League of Super-Pets have spared no expense when it comes to the voice cast. Among its all-star vocalists, Keanu Reeves’ Batman, though fleeting, stands out a mile, delivering some of the film’s funniest moments with a deadpan delivery that only Reeves could pull off. The playful if predictable jabs at superhero tropes and the banter between Krypto and his newfound friends keep the audience entertained, while the animation, vibrant and engaging, breathes life into the characters with expressive designs and dynamic action sequences. Themes of friendship, teamwork, and self-discovery are woven into the narrative, offering valuable lessons without descending into preachiness.
The plot, although sweet and engaging in parts, feels somewhat mechanical, moving predictably from one point to another. Characters, though endearing, lack the depth that might make them truly memorable. Some jokes fall flat, relying on overused gags or lazy humour. The middle act, in particular, drags, revealing the film’s superficial nature. The limited screen time of Reeves’ Batman likewise leaves the audience yearning for more of his character’s unique humour, a tease of what could have been an even more fun ride.
Compared to the often dark and gritty live-action DC movies, DC League of Super-Pets is a breath of fresh air. It embraces a lighter, more comedic tone that sets it apart from the likes of Batman v Superman and Justice League and while it doesn’t delve into the post-modern complexities of its characters as deeply as the live-action films attempt to, it provides a fun and accessible entry point for younger audiences to DC’s characters who, for too long, have been the jealously guarded collectibles of the graphic novel fanboy crowd.
In the end, DC League of Super-Pets offers a fun, family-friendly romp through the superhero genre. It is DC’s version of Paw Patrol (and the pups from Adventure Bay would fire back a year later with 2023’s Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie) but with a bigger budget to spend on talent behind the mic. It may not soar to the heights of DC’s finest animated offering and it doesn’t come close to threatening the likes of Disney or classic Pixar (modern Pixar? Maybe) but it’s still nice to see the current cinematic superhero boom embracing the sillier side of silver age comic books and bringing super powered pets to the big screen.
