DC League Of Super-Pets Is A Charming Ode To Our Best Non-Human Friends

A good pet is priceless, a loving companion that would save an individual’s life in a pinch. If it’s humanity that needs saving, is there any better set of heroes than a group of super pets? DC League of Super-Pets answers that question with a resounding ‘no,’ finding joy in the relationship of humans and their non-human friends and hope in the power of heroism. It’s a fun, slightly messy but charming outing, with talented voice acting and some high-stakes action underlying an ode to our best, four-legged companions.

DC League of Super-Pets centers on Krypto (Dwayne Johnson), the super-dog of Superman (John Krasinski), coming to terms with Superman’s growing relationship with Olivia Wilde’s Lois Lane (alongside some fears of being replaced as the Best Friend of Steel). When the orange-kryptonite-gathering plan of one Lex Luthor (Marc Maron) goes awry, it accidentally gives powers to the various animals at a local shelter. These include Ace (Kevin Hart), a Boxer who gains invulnerability, PB (Vanessa Vayer), a size-changing pig, Merton McSnurtle (Natasha Lyonne), a turtle, and Chip (Diego Luna), a red squirrel with electric powers, alongside the evil Lulu, a telekinetic guinea pig with world-conquering dreams.

Dwayne Johnson’s Krypto vocal performance really works for the character, and it’s full of personality and nuance. Natasha Lyonne is hilarious as Merton (seriously, spinoff?). Vanessa Bayer’s PB is perpetually charming. Diego Luna’s Chip is a lot of fun. Kevin Hart’s Ace shouldn’t work, it almost doesn’t (his voice doesn’t quite match a large, Batman-esque Boxer) but Hart modifies it sufficiently to ultimately land make the role work. The vocal talent behind the human characters fit in their roles (Keanu Reeves is Batman, it’s perfect, and Jemaine Clement plays Aquaman swimmingly), but they’re certainly not ‘the point’ of DC League of Super-Pets.

As far as kid-friendly animations go, it’s a fun one. At its heart is a meditation on the relationship between humans and their canine companions, along with lessons on the value of friendship. They’re handled with charm. There are also a number of strong visual scenes with inventive action that give it a strong pace for kids and adults alike. On the adult-value front, there are some definite genre deep cuts (like a subtle Nightmare on Elm Street nod that will fly over the head of any kiddo without a firm background in Freddy Krueger) that give it some successful extra gags. It’s clearly still aimed square at DC fans but the writing is tight and funny enough to land for folks who aren’t particularly vested in the DC canon.

The biggest issue with the film, perhaps, is that there are some structural problems that detract from it a little. The plotting is a little complex, particularly for those without a deep-cut DC background… Krypto loses powers, regains them. Luthor has machinations that fail, then succeed, then there’s backtracking. There’s betrayal… it’s a lot of moving parts that at time feel a little messy. It also strikes a tenuous balance at times over which pet is its protagonist between Krypto and Ace. As a whole, though, it’s an enjoyable enough journey for a viewer to sit down, dig in, and ride out the details.

There are also some small additional issues that persist throughout the film. The Justice League seem humorously but inauthentically incompetent. The voice acting is solid, but the casting feels spotty at times. Thematically it’s a little messy (it’s kind of about sacrificing for loved ones, and kind of about the power of friendship, and kind of about finding yourself). At the same time, it boasts amusing dialogue, fun characters, solid action, and despite the above issues it’s very enjoyable. For those who have dogs (and, I guess, pigs, turtles, etc), you’re going to want to go home, get kisses, and play fetch.

Altogether, Jared Stern directed and co-wrote a charming, creative film that’s a fun watch for DC fans, a cute love letter to Man’s Best Friend, and something that an adult can enjoy. It’s certainly kid-friendly and youthfully oriented, but it casts a wide net of enjoyability. DC League of Super-Pets is a cute, pet-loving outing, and a good time at the theater (presumably to be followed with an outing to the local rescue shelter).

DC League of Super-Pets comes to theaters July 29, 2022.