In a summer where animations have just gone ‘through the motions’ – you can add this to the list.
You kind of get it with a cash-cow like Minions, but this original property – a pets’ spin-off of DC’s Justice League – joins the likes of Lightyear in never really catching fire despite so much potential.
And particularly when you throw in cameos from the likes of Superman (John Krasinski), Batman (Keanu Reeves), Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and co, it’s actually a very seen-it-all-before, buddy animation re-hashed with the same premise that has been done oodles of times before.
When Lulu (Ghostbusters’ Kate McKinnon), a guinea pig tested by Lex Luthor (Marc Maron), comes across some kryptonite – giving her superpowers – that the crime lord has stolen, she manages to take out the aforementioned superhero group and imprison them.
It’s then left to Kryptonian Labrador Retriever superdog Krypto (Dwayne Johnson) – who is imbued with the same powers as his owner Superman has – to try and save the day in Metropolis.
Sounds extremely familiar?
Unfortunately, Krypto has lost his super abilities after Lulu laced his cheese with a piece of kryptonite, and he has to join forces with animals from a pet store, who have fortunately received their own powers from the same piece of intergalactic rock that has helped Luthor’s pet.
Enter Kevin Hart’s super-strength Boxer hound Ace, pot-bellied size-changing pig PB (Vanessa Bayer), telekinesis-laden red squirrel Chip (Diego Luna) and Natasha Lyonne’s (American Pie) super-fast turtle Merton – to help assist him on his way.
What ensues is a fairly generic and predictable ‘A to B’ storyline that is ultimately the Secret Life of Pets with a DC badge. No better, no worse.
There are a few humorous interludes – including the expected pet excrement jokes – and nice chemistry between Central Intelligence co-stars Johnson and Hart as the lead characters, but bar that it’s very paint-by-numbers fare lacking surprisingly little ingenuity.
And it actually takes until the end credits scene for arguably the film’s best moment.
Which leaves this as a passable couple of hours to entertain the kids – lazily coasting on its branded superhero premise.
ESP Rating: 2.5/5
Gavin Miller
Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough, Out Now
Voice Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate Mckinnon, John Krasinski, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Schwartz, Marc Maron, Olivia Wilde & Keanu Reeves
Running Time: 1 Hr 45 Mins
Director: Jared Stern
Go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux
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