Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

DC League of Super-Pets 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Leader of the pack.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III September 30, 2022

I'm admittedly no DC historian, but even I was aware that Superman had a dog, Krypto, and he's the star of the new animated property League of Super-Pets. (Sadly Comet, Streaky, and Beppo are nowhere to be found.) It begins as a lightweight origin story for the heroic pup but digs around in very familiar kid-friendly territory for most of its runtime, following Krypto -- voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson -- as he teams up with a group of furry super-misfits to take down a shared enemy in Metropolis. High art this ain't, but it's fine entertainment for the whole family.

League of Super-Pets starts off on the right foot with a sweet flashback where beloved family pet Krypto hitches a ride to Earth in Kal-El's escape pod, acting as something of a security blanket for the scared infant. Fast-forwarding to the present, Clark Kent / Superman (John Krasinski) and fully-grown Krypto are best buds, a totally unstoppable crime-fighting duo whose biggest challenge seems to be maintaining their paper-thin secret identities.

Naturally, his master's unexpected engagement to fellow Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane (Olivia Wilde) threatens their bromance and it's not long before Clark heads for the local shelter to find a new pal for his pup. Soon after, one of the shelter's pets -- power-hungry guinea pig Lulu (Kate McKinnon), once a test subject for billionaire Lex Luthor (Marc Maron) -- obtains a small piece of orange kryptonite after her former master's plot is thwarted by the Justice League; Lulu's treasure grants animals superhero-like powers and, unsurprisingly, is actually established DC canon. All nearby beasts are affected by the resulting blast, sending the shelter's furry inhabitants scurrying for freedom with their new abilities, while Superman and his apparently not-so-amazing friends Batman (Keanu Reeves), Wonder Woman (Jameela Jamil), The Flash (John Early), Cyborg (Daveed Diggs), Green Lantern (Dascha Polanco), and Aquaman (Jemaine Clement) are quickly captured and imprisoned by the surprisingly powerful guinea pig.

It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to figure out what happens next: Krypto can't save the city alone, so he needs to help the escaped shelter animals better understand and use their new, partially untapped powers. One-eighth Boxer "Ace" (Kevin Hart) has super strength, invulnerability, and no confidence. Potbellied pig PB (Vanessa Bayer) can change size, but often does so involuntarily. Aging turtle Merton McSnurtle (Natasha Lyonne) has super-speed, great one-liners, and poor eyesight. Red squirrel Chip (Diego Luna) is extremely skittish but seems to have telekinetic skill.

The road to a final showdown tries desperately to pave over familiar potholes, with League of Super-Pets relying on physical comedy, sight gags, and multiple training montages to cover up its mostly uninspired supporting characters and kid-movie clichés. Even the climactic battle, thrilling as it is, can be spotted from a mile away and its coda, in which the number of super-pets exactly matches their soon-to-be-owners, is partially spoiled by the 4K and Blu-ray cover artwork. But, like almost everything else in League of Super-Pets, it's all in good fun and plenty entertaining to boot, with decently ambitious world-building, a handful of admittedly effective emotional beats, and a very solid voice cast from top to bottom. Don't expect anything on the level of A-grade Pixar and you'll have a good time.

Warner Bros. offers League of Super-Pets (which debuted in theaters less than nine weeks ago) in two flavors: this 4K/Blu-ray combo pack and a separate Blu-ray/DVD edition, both of which flirt with A/V perfection within their formats' separate boundaries. Extras are lighter than normal but well within expectations for a kid-themed affair.

DC League of Super-Pets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Even for just an upscaled 2160p transfer, Warner Bros.' 4K UHD presentation of League of Super-Pets is a wonderfully nuanced effort that easily surpasses its Blu-ray counterpart on the right setup. While both offer an excellent experience overall within their formats' specific boundaries, the 4K's superior encoding and effective use of HDR10 enhancement make it more immediately appealing and might even help eagle-eyed viewers catch a few well-placed Easter eggs on larger screens. Fine detail, while not noticeably improved at every turn due to the film's simplified but attractive visual style, is enhanced by smoother edges and virtually no signs of compression artifacts or banding, while superior contrast levels and shadow detail also add their own levels of support. This segues nicely into its HDR-driven color saturation, which absolutely pops off the screen on many occasions but does so without excessive blooming. Darker moments also shine more brightly with better separation, as distinct colors are able to stand out against dim backgrounds where their SDR counterparts get a bit more lost in the shadows. Both are absolutely great presentations for similar reasons... but if you're like me and watch the 4K disc first, a second viewing in 1080p just won't hit with the same impact.

NOTE: The screenshots in this review are sourced directly from the included Blu-ray disc. For my thoughts on its comparatively strong 1080p transfer, please see my separate review of that title.

DC League of Super-Pets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner Bros. offers two main audio options: Dolby Atmos -- which, as always, unfolds to a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 or 5.1 mix if your receiver doesn't support the format -- and a separate DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix, which is basically identical. (Not the first time WB has included redundant audio tracks.) Either one packs a formidable punch, one that combines crisp dialogue with a wonderful surround presence that regularly reaches deep into the rear channels. Discrete effects are ample without feeling overcooked, front separation is quite strong, and music cues often float towards the center without taking over the mix; this is especially effective during some of its many Guardians of the Galaxy-esque classic pop cuts, which retain a vintage presence and intermingle with background effects nicely. Atmos' height channels are also used very effectively, from superhero fly-bys to the chaotic final battle. It's a great mix overall, one that's carefully measured rather than just cranked up to 11, and actually sounded better than what I heard in theaters.

Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are included during the main feature and extras.

DC League of Super-Pets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a keepcase with attractive cover artwork, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy code. Extras are mostly limited to short featurettes and can all be found on the Blu-ray disc only.

• How to Draw Krypto (6:48) - Animation supervisor Dave Burgess sits at his high-tech design station for a quick art tutorial, reminding kids and broke-ass adults that yes, a regular old pencil and paper is OK.

• Behind the Super Voices (14:39) - Voice actors Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, and Vanessa Bayer (all the main Super-Pets), along with writer/director Jared Stern and others, talk about the casting process, characters, and the in-studio/virtual experience. We also get a few on-set moments.

• Super-Pets Animation 101 (8:18) - Producer Patricia Hicks, writer/co-director Sam J. Levine, animation supervisor Dave Burgess, and layout supervisor Régis Schuller talk about the pitch and early development in 2018, establishing the characters, visual designs, favorite moments, shell décor, and more.

• The World of Super-Pets (7:41) - Producer Patricia Hicks, art director Kristen Anderson, writer/co-director Sam J. Levine, and others talk world-building and using decades of DC lore for its characters and story.

• Find the Easter Eggs (3:39) - Writer/co-director Sam J. Levine and writer/director Jared Stern take us on a quick guided tour of fun little background details for more seasoned DC fans. Good stuff!

• Deleted Scenes (12 clips with "Play All", 20:48 total) - These numbered scenes, all presented in enhanced storyboard or animatic form with background music and occasional temp voices, include "Storm Scenes", "Meet the Rescue Animals (Backstory Version)", "Krypto Powerless", "Wild for the Night", "Lulu Visits LexCorp", "Hero Team Assemble (Previous Version)", "Meanwhile at the HOJ (A)", "Meanwhile at the HOJ (B)", "Capturing the JLA", "Stryker's Island", "Lulu Gathers the Troops", and "Krypto's Solo Flight".

DC League of Super-Pets 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

DC League of Super-Pets is a frivolous but fun family film whose overall entertainment value and terrific voice cast do most of the heavy lifting. Although additional script polish and a tighter tone would have pushed this one more firmly out of "guilty pleasure" territory, it's one of those films that parents probably won't mind watching multiple times once their kids get hooked. Warner Bros.' appreciated 4K presentation offers a very high-quality A/V presentation (although the Blu-ray is no slouch either), and the lightweight bonus features offer a bit of added value. It's Recommended for established fans and newcomers alike, although total DC n00bs may want to stream this puppy first.