At first blush, it’s easy to write off DC League of Super-Pets as yet another generic entry to the superhero genre. It does include well-worn tropes, including the trials and tribulations of growing into brand new superpowers, but the film transcends that. It’s bright, cheery, and livelier than it has any right to be. Of course, it would be unrealistic to expect a movie aimed at children to adopt the same bland color scheme and rehashed storylines the current crop of live-action superhero films seems to love. It’s the willingness of DC League of Super-Pets to embrace the absurdity and fun of the genre that makes the film take flight.

Since birth, Krypto (Dwayne Johnson) and Superman, aka Clark Kent (John Krasinski), have been inseparable best friends. They live in Metropolis and protect it along with the other members of the Justice League (Keanu Reeves, Jameela Jamil, Jemaine Clement, John Early, Daveed Diggs, and Dascha Polanco). Clark fears that Krypto is too dependent on their friendship and wants Krypto to make some animal friends. Clark goes to the local pet rescue center, but before he can find a friend for Krypto, he sees an orange kryptonite meteor headed for the city.

Lex Luthor (Marc Maron) is using one of his high-tech gadgets to pull the meteor down to earth because he believes orange kryptonite will give him superpowers. Lex is partially right. Orange kryptonite can create superpowers, but only in animals. A piece of the meteor crashes into the pet rescue center and grants powers to a Boxer named Ace (Kevin Hart), a turtle named Merton (Natasha Lyonne), a pig named PB (Vanessa Bayer), and a squirrel named Chip (Diego Luna). Lastly, it grants powers to a hairless guinea pig named Lulu (Kate McKinnon) who wants to take over the world to prove her worth to Lex Luthor. After Lulu captures the members of the Justice League, it’s up to Krypto and the ragtag team of shelter pets to save the day.

There is nothing in the live-action superhero genre that’s as delightfully deranged as a team of superpowered guinea pigs wreaking havoc in Metropolis. Or a comically cute kitten that looks like it should be a sidekick in a Disney movie, but has a rocket launcher in its tail. DC League of Super-Pets felt like writers Jared Stern and John Whittington were given total freedom to play in the sandbox of DC comics. The brief appearances of the Justice League make for a far better adaptation than the Whedon or Snyder cut.

This is Hart and Johnson’s fifth team-up, and they’ve created a distinct comedic style with their characters. It’s always Johnson making jokes at Hart’s expense for being shorter and not as muscular. It’s a schtick that’s grating, but thankfully was not the dynamic between their characters. Johnson and Hart’s performances were more subdued than their usual slapstick antics. This allowed the supporting voice cast, specifically Lyonne and McKinnon, to shine.

Those who have grown weary of caped crusaders fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way can rejoice in DC League of Super-Pets. While it’s not the finest of animated superhero films (that title is still firmly in the hands of Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse), the movie is a good-natured romp through the varied and wonderful journey of having a pet. Superpowers not guaranteed.

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