
DC League of Super-Pets
2022, PG, 106 min. Directed by Jared Stern, Sam Levine. Voices by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, Natasha Lyonne, Vanessa Bayer, Diego Luna, Keanu Reeves, John Krasinski, Marc Maron.
REVIEWED By Richard Whittaker, Fri., July 29, 2022
Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson clearly have fun making movies together. Three films into their partnership (Hart's cameo in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw barely counts) it's clear that they're more fun together in family-friendly fare like the Jumanji sequels than the clunky Central Intelligence. For DC League of Super-Pets, their fourth proper feature together, they may have at least shared the same recording booth as they bring their double act to DC League of Super-Pets, one of the strangest but most enjoyable corners of the DC animated universe.
Krypto the Superdog is proof that 1955 was a weird time for comics: DC Comics decided to cash in on the success of The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, ABC's reboot of the old Poverty Row movie series about a heroic German shepherd. The idea of corn-fed farm boy Clark Kent having an equally superpowered golden retriever was such a hit that Batman got his own canine sidekick, Ace the Bat-Hound, and in the early Sixties the hero animal craze resulted in the Legion of Super-Pets. For decades, DC has vacillated between erasing and embracing their inherent goofiness, and League of Super-Pets finally gives them their own headliner movie with Johnson as Superman's best friend and Hart as up-for-adoption boxer Ace (can you say ... origin story?).
The duo has already proven their ability to banter, with entertaining results, and the quick-witted script takes them to the most kid-friendly version of their act yet. Writer/director Stern and his The Lego Batman Movie and The Lego Ninjago Movie co-writer John Whittington plays to all their strengths as Superman (Mister Fantastic aka Krasinski, like Johnson with the upcoming Black Adam, pulling double superhero fan casting duty this year) and the whole Justice League get kidnapped by a Kryptonite-mutated Lexcorp guinea pig named Lulu (McKinnon). Luckily, even as Krypto loses his powers, Ace and a shelter's worth of critturs (Lyonne as a Flash-esque turtle, Bayer as a size-changing pig, and Luna as a lightning-projecting squirrel) get their own, and learn important lessons about friendship along the way.
League of Super-Pets is a lighthearted, generically animated, fun time out for the kids. There's an oddly large number of jokes from the Distinguished Competition referring to Marvel characters, and the weird decision to have turtle Merton (the name a nod to DC's original talking animal) talk with bleeped-out swears, but overall the boisterous buddy comedy of Hart and Johnson will make you believe a dog truly can fly.
Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline
14028 Hwy. 183 N., 512/861-7070, www.drafthouse.com/austin/theater/lakeline
Tue., Aug. 9
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Mon., Aug. 15
Alamo Drafthouse Mueller
1911 Aldrich #120, 512/572-1425, drafthouse.com/austin/theater/mueller
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Fri., Aug. 12
Sat., Aug. 13
Sun., Aug. 14
Mon., Aug. 15
Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane
5701 W. Slaughter, 512/861-7060, drafthouse.com/austin/theater/slaughter-lane
Showtimes at this venue are subject to frequent change. Please confirm daily times by phone or website.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Fri., Aug. 12
Sat., Aug. 13
Sun., Aug. 14
Mon., Aug. 15
AMC Dine-In Tech Ridge 10
12625 N. I-35, 512/640-1533, www.amctheatres.com
Tue., Aug. 9
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Sun., Aug. 14
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Barton Creek Square (AMC)
2901 Capital of Texas Hwy. S., 512/306-1991, www.amctheatres.com
Matinee discounts available before 4pm daily. Bring Your Baby matinees the first Tuesday of every month.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Blue Starlite Downtown
300 San Antonio, 707/787-5072, bluestarlitedrivein.com/downtown
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
Cinemark 20 and XD
N. I-35 & FM 1825, 512/989-8535
Cost for 3-D and XD shows is regular ticket price plus a premium.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Cinemark Cedar Park
1335 E. Whitestone, Cedar Park, 800/326-3264
Call theatre for complete list of movies and showtimes.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Cinemark Hill Country Galleria 14
12812 Hill Country Blvd., 800/326-3264, www.cinemark.com/theater_showtimes.asp?theater_id=377
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Cinemark Round Rock
4401 N. I-35, Round Rock, 800/326-3264
Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium. Call theatre for complete March 26-28 showtimes.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Cinemark Southpark Meadows
9900 S. I-35, 800/326-3264
Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Cinemark Stone Hill Town Center
18820 Hilltop Commercial Dr., 512/251-0938, www.cinemark.com
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Cinergy Marble Falls
2600 Hwy 281 North, Marble Falls, www.showbizcinemas.com/cinema-info/marble-falls/
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
City Lights Theatre
420 Wolf Ranch Parkway, Georgetown, 512/868-9922
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Evo Cinemas Belterra
166 Hargraves Ste. A-100, 512/457-0700, www.evocinemas.com/belterra
Tue., Aug. 9
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Fri., Aug. 12
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Mon., Aug. 15
EVO Entertainment
3200 Kyle Crossing, Kyle, 512/523-9009, www.evo-entertainment.com
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Film Alley Bastrop
1600 Chestnut St, Bastrop, 512/321-0123, bastrop.filmalley.net/
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Flix Brewhouse
2200 S. I-35, Round Rock, 512/244-3549, www.flixbrewhouse.com/round-rock
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
Galaxy Highland 10
6700 Middle Fiskville, 512/467-7305, www.galaxytheatres.com
No one under 18 will be allowed in the theatre on Friday or Saturday after 7pm without an adult.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Fri., Aug. 12
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Gateway Theatre
9700 Stonelake, 512/416-5700
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
Hometown Cinemas
120 MLK Jr. Industrial Blvd. W, Lockhart, 512/398-4100, www.hometowncinemas.com
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
iPic Theaters Austin
3225 Amy Donovan Plaza, 512/568-3400, www.ipic.com
Wed., Aug. 10
Fri., Aug. 12
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Mon., Aug. 15
Tue., Aug. 9
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Metropolitan
901 Little Texas, 512/447-0101
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
Moviehouse & Eatery
8300 FM 620 N., Bldg. B, 512/501-3520, www.themoviehouse.com/trails/
Tue., Aug. 9
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Mon., Aug. 15
Moviehouse & Eatery - Lantana Place
7415 Southwest Pkwy., Bldg. 7, 512/572-0770, www.themoviehouse.com/lantana/
Tue., Aug. 9
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Southwest Theaters at Lake Creek 7
13729 Research #1500, 512/291-3158, www.southwesttheaters.com
$6.50 children and senior tickets (all-day), $5 Tuesdays (all tickets), Bargain Matinees before 5pm daily.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
Fri., Aug. 12
Sat., Aug. 13
Sun., Aug. 14
Mon., Aug. 15
The Spot Cinema Eatery & Social Haus
1180 Thorpe Lane #130, San Marcos, 512/210-8600, www.evo-entertainment.com/locations/the-spot/
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
Westgate 11
4477 S. Lamar, 512/899-2717
Discounts daily before 6pm. Cost for 3-D shows is regular ticket price plus a $3.50 premium.
Tue., Aug. 9
Wed., Aug. 10
Thu., Aug. 11
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Richard Whittaker, Aug. 5, 2022
Aug. 6, 2022
DC League of Super-Pets, Jared Stern, Sam Levine