It’s been a longstanding convention that DC Comic’s animated outings are top-tier, whilst their offering of live-action films leave a little (often a lot) to be desired – not for wont of trying, and likely a position DC would rather flip. But, nonetheless, DC have cultivated a reputation for excellent toon features.
In this tale of (Super)man’s best friend, that’s no different.
DC League Of Super-Pets capitalises on the inherent humour evident in superhero worlds. And, with that humour, it delivers fun, fast-paced action in a counterbalancing act that caters to both adults and children alike. Helped by a star-studded voice-cast of Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, Kevin Heart, Kate McKinnon, and even John Krasinski and Keanu Reeves, Super-Pets can’t help but soar.
Krypto the Super-Dog (Johnson) and Superman (Kraskinski) lead the early stages of the film as an inseparable duo of best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by side. But Superman and the rest of the Justice League (Reeves is perfectly cast as a sour Batman, and Jermaine Clement of Flight Of The Concords fame is a hilarious Aquaman) are kidnapped.
Krypto must convince a rag-tag shelter pack- Ace the hound (Hart), PB the potbellied pig (Vanessa Bayer), Merton the turtle (Natasha Lyonne), and Chip the squirrel (Diego Luna)- to master their own newfound powers and help him rescue the superheroes.
Super-Pets makes for lightweight viewing, but where it excels is its action scenes and likeable jokes. There’s few that don’t land, and all of that is underscored with touching themes worthy of mention: friendship, teamwork, and finding one’s self-confidence.
Directors Jared Stern and Sam J. Levine manage to get this film flying high for an animated feature aimed at the whole family. It sits nicely in the middle of the dog lover and DC Comics fan Venn diagram.
DC League of Super-Pets opens at the Bowen Summergarden Cinema on Saturday, September 17.
There’s talent galore on show in DC League Of Super-Pets - Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Heart, and Keanu Reeves to name a few
