This week on "Justin Hall At The Movies," I'll be reviewing Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart as Superman and Batman's dynamic duo of dogs in "DC League of Super-Pets."
DC League of Super-Pets introduces the premise of what if DC's most famous superheroes had pets? What would they be like? Would they have the same powers as their hero counterparts? Well, the answer is we do get those answers in an animated movie that is funny, clever, and filled with high-energy voice work.
Dwayne Johnson voices Krypto, Superman's dog who came to Earth with him as a baby. He and Superman (John Krasinski) are nearly inseparable as they fight crime in Metropolis, except for when Supe's alter ego Clark Kent starts dating Lois Lane and that's when trouble begins to brew.
Kevin Hart voices Ace, a Boxer who discovers he has superhuman strength and invulnerability. The two mutts meet when Ace tries to escape from a shelter and Krypto mistakenly thinks Ace is a criminal. This of course provides an excuse for Johnson and Hart to display their unique chemistry by exchanging one-liner after one-liner.
Marc Meron voices Lex Luthor, who wants to get rid of the Justice League, and Kate McKinnon voices his animal partner-in-crime, Lulu the guinea pig. They come into possession of a piece of Kryptonite that gives her powers.
Lulu manages to kidnap the Justice League using her new powers and it's up to Krypto and Ace to the rescue. But they're not alone. Little did Lulu realize, other pets were also around at the time she received her powers:
There's PB (Vanessa Bayer), a potbellied pig that can grow and shrink; Merton (Natasha Lyonne), a turtle who has supersonic speed; and Chip (Diego Luna), a squirrel who becomes telekinetic.
In addition to the animals' voices, we also get Keanu Reeves as Batman. His version of the character does provide a lot of great moments and his best work comes from when he gives a speech about how he works alone right in the middle of an action sequence.
DC League of Super-Pets could've been one of those disposable throwaway movies that easily wastes its talent and premise, but it finds ways to keep the story interesting and the actors involve seem to really enjoy the characters they're voicing.
Johnson and Hart provide a lot of funny moments, but they're balanced with other scenes showing how man's best friend really is man's best friend.
At times the humor is hit-or-miss, but there's plenty of visual gags and sometimes those one-liners land the sweet spot.
DC League of Super-Pets is bright, lively and entertaining for kids and adults who have an affinity for both these characters and the animal world will be taken in as well.
It does its job well enough to earn a treat.
Grade: B+(Rated PG for action, mild violence, language and rude humor.)
Reviewer's Note: I saw this movie at the Strand in Jesup.