Star-fuelled Super-Pets just forgettable fluff
Neither as subversively smart as Teen Titans, nor consistently funny as The Secret Life of Pets franchise, this animated adventure scrapes by on a little (Kevin) Hart and a lot of Dwayne Johnson.
The dynamic duo, whose chemistry has been key to the success of everything from the Jumanji reboot to Fast and Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw and action-comedy Central Intelligence, spar nicely off one another as a pair of pooches from very different sides of the tracks.
Despite answering to the name ‘‘Bark Kent’’, Johnson’s character is Krypto, Superman’s (John Krasinski) loyal canine companion who accompanied ‘‘Kal-El’’ to Earth in an escape pod just as their home planet was about to explode.
Hart is Ace, a long-term resident of an animal shelter who dreams of escape to an upstate farm and prays to avoid being ‘‘taken out the back’’ where they ‘‘only listen to smooth jazz’’.
The two cross paths when Superman decides that Krypto could use a pal, now that he’s found Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde). Using the visit to make a bid for freedom, Ace is thwarted by Krypto, but rocks the latter when he reveals some ‘‘home truths’’ he overheard Superman tell the shelter staff. The ‘‘Man of Steel’’ plans to make Lois his permanent ‘‘best friend’’ – and soon.
But any jealousy has to be put on the back burner when Lex Luthor (Marc Maron) attempts to capture a passing meteorite. Made of 100% pure ‘‘orange kryptonite’’, he believes it will give him superpowers to rival any of the Justice League. But although he is eventually defeated and sent to Stryker’s Island, a small sliver of the space rock ends up in the shelter, not only imbuing Ace and his friends with special powers, but also a guinea pig with a serious grudge. Formerly in the employ of Luthor, Lulu (Kate McKinnon) has her own plans for world domination, beginning with taking out the Justice League, one by one. ‘‘What is this? Paw Patrol?’’
Despite being an astute observation – and raising a laugh – it’s also indicative of why League of Super-Pets is fun, but forgettable fluff. Too many of the jokes are tied to relatively recent pop-culture references. We learn that Superman and Krypto love The
Great British Bake Off, while a perceived slight sends the latter into an emotional tailspin that necessitates streaming Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood on repeat.
Better are the digs at the sometimestroubled DC Extended Universe of Movies and their ultimate master – Warners. ‘‘That better be a licensed toy, or I will freak out,’’ Batman (Keanu Reeves) exclaims when confronted by Krypto’s chew toy, while Ace observes that Krypto’s ‘‘glasses are fooling no-one – the moustache maybe’’ (a clear reference to the drama around Henry Cavill’s poorly CGI-d out facial fuzz in Justice League).
Compared to co-writer and co-director Jared Stern’s efforts on the far superior Lego Batman Movie though, it’s all a little inconsistent and haphazard. This feels very much like a cobbledtogether Franken-plot involving bits of other animated movies – a touch of Megamind here, a soupc¸on of Monsters vs. Aliens there – with the sole purpose of trying to extend the DC fan-base to a new generation.
If my 11-year-old is anything to go by, there is daylight between Marvel and them in terms of popularity. This aims to redress that, but feels like it is trying way too hard, assembling a quite incredible vocal cast that also includes Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Jameela Jamil and Jemaine Clement (an inspired choice to voice Aquaman) – to enliven a fairly predictable and pedestrian plot.
A film that’s likely to enrage cavy clubs and hamster owners with its persistent jibes at their pets, this even has the temerity to attempt to act as a teaser for Johnson’s upcoming liveaction DC arrival.
Coupled with the fact that this all but ignores the Super-Pets who have been a part of the company’s comic-books for six decades (there’s no sign of Comet the Super-Horse, Streaky the Supercat or Beppo the Supermonkey here) and you’re left with a feeling of disappointment and this being a slightly wasted opportunity.
DC League of Super-Pets is now screening in cinemas nationwide.