“DC League of Super-Pets” has become the underrated and not automatically remembered entry in the “Superman” film franchise.
That’s funny, since it’s only three years old and is firmly a part of the DC film universe. In fact, the film is oddly aligned to another, subsequent DC Comics-based flop (more on that later).
Not only is the film such a spry, funny sleeper, far outshining its initial appearance as kiddie fodder, it actually gave me a lot of something I didn’t get enough of in James Gunn’s new “Superman”: Krypto the Dog!
A terrific prolog retells the destruction of Krypton, only from the perspective of baby Kal-El’s pet puppy, Krypto the dog. As the planet Krypton is falling apart and Kal-El’s parents place the boy in an escape pod, the boy pleads for his dog, who Jor-El sends with him as they hurtle through the cosmos while Krypton explodes.
The animation here and onward is spectacular, but it’s the character details that hit: Krypto the puppy comforts the alone and crying Kal-El as their ship makes its way to Earth. I was about to lose it and cry buckets, until we get a flash cut, showing how things are for the pair in contemporary times.
In modern-day Metropolis, the grown-up Kal-El is now Superman (John Krasinski), and his unfailingly loyal Krypto (Dwayne Johnson) is fully grown and diligently mimics his companion. Their morning walk, in full superhero attire, includes a run through the park, a flight through the clouds and saving Metropolis from Braniac.
Set to Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend,” the tone is clear – it’s cheerful and funny but not kidding around in the way it’s telling a Man of Steel story.
We hear Krypto’s dialog, as do the other animals he encounters, while Superman and all the other humans only hear barking. While Superman adores Krypto, he recognizes that the dog is clearly obsessed with him.
A sight gag I loved is how, while Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde) is having a stolen moment with Superman on a park bench, gazing into his eyes, she looks out and notes that Krypto is sitting yards away, staring at them.
Krypto sheepishly smiles and waves at them.
In addition to having all the same powers and abilities as Superman, Krypto is also as earnest and corny the Man of Steel. One example? He dishes out lots of puns (“Pup, pup and away!”). When Krypto meets another dog named Ace (Kevin Hart) and a slew of rescue pups with real problems, Krypto has no idea how to mingle with them.
Another problem is that Lex Luthor’s guinea pig, Lulu (Kate McKinnon) is, like Krypto, trying to impress her master. The critter has a wild plot for world domination.
Pup, pup, and away!
DC League of Super-Pets is now streaming on @hbo via HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/fjKAVGeaHN
— Actually HBO Max (@StreamOnMax) September 26, 2022
The style of animation sometimes changes to convey flashbacks, like a funny montage where Krypto imagines how Superman favors Lois Lane more than him. There’s also a touching sequence, akin to the “When She Loved Me” sequence from “Toy Story 2” (1999), where we learn why Ace was separated from his home and the child he cared for.
The intro to Ace and his contrast to Krypto sets the plot in motion, but it’s less cynical and crude than expected. Unlike most animated kiddie comedies, the emphasis isn’t on lowbrow humor, aside from the reveal that Krypto’s droppings have the scent of sandalwood.
A nice touch is that, for all the verbal silliness and adorable talking animals, this never feels like either “The Secret Lives of Pets” (2016) or its sequel. In fact, “DC League of Super-Pets” is a lot closer to the smart, exciting “Bolt” (2008), and would make an ideal double feature with this one.
McKinnon’s small but diabolical guinea pig reminded me a lot of Pinky, from one of my favorite Warner Bros. cartoons, “Pinky and the Brain” (1995-1998). Keanu Reeves is hilarious voicing Batman – every single one of his lines garners a big laugh.
While the movie sags a little during the second act and gets a genuine but never terminal case of the cutes, the third act connects and comes roaring to life.
Despite lots of intellectual property and Warner Bros. references, this never becomes an empty IP excuse like “Space Jam: A New Legacy” (2021).
“DC League of Super-Pets” is an ideal vehicle for Johnson as well as Hart, who are both much funnier here than they were in the live-action, underwhelming “Central Intelligence” (2016). The all-star cast is in good form, though it’s Krasinski’s sly turn as Superman, Johnson’s amusing commitment to Krypto’s insane devotion to Superman and especially Reeves’ wildly funny line readings that garner the biggest laughs.
Another highlight: David Keith’s vocal turn as Dog-El, Krypto’s father, who leaves him messages from the grave that are hysterically funny (my hands-down favorite: “Fireworks SUCK!”).
There’s also a great soundtrack, with an ideal Taylor Swift song over the end that is easily my favorite thing she’s produced. The grand finale is spectacular and earns the emotional beats it goes for. Yes, it’s a comedy about superheroes and the genre itself, but the emotional stakes are in place.
Here is a comedy about how insecure the pets of superheroes must feel, while the superheroes themselves carry their own issues. It’s more of a concept than an overall point, though the earnest message seems to be that, whether we’re talking about pets, humans, super-humans or all of the above, there’s someone for everyone.
The only thing that doesn’t work is the post-credit sequence that includes vocal work from Johnson as both Krypto and Black Adam, which was scheduled to open after this movie. The set-up for the dud that is “Black Adam” is a reminder that this leg of the DC Cinematic Universe is now in James Gunn’s hands, with the likes of “Black Adam” (2020) and “Blue Beetle” (2023) a thing of the past.
“DC League of Super-Pets” did okay at the box office ($93 million U.S.) and can be found on streaming channels (most notably HBO Max). I rarely hear it discussed alongside the best movies about Superman. Well, surprise – it may be sweet and geared for kids, but this winning comedy will delight the fanboys and their parents.
Instead of seeing how little screen time Krypto gets in Gunn’s very-PG-13, highly profane and brutal new “Superman,” I recommend going backwards and showing kids the time Krypto was always at Superman’s side and sounded like The Rock.
Once again, this is the “wurst” take on the internet.