Review // The Secret Life of Pets

[projekktor id=’24689′]

This is a film for the kids (big and small) who have always wondered if the food partied when the fridge door closed, if stuffed animals got up to no good when you left for school and if cats and dogs really spoke the same language and choreographed epic adventures Homeward Bound-style. According to The Secret Life of Pets, they do.

The utterly enjoyable family adventure is set in New York City, where pets living in the same apartment complex spend their days hanging out while their paw-rents live The Secret Lives of Owners. When the scrappy-yet-regal Max (Louis CK) is introduced to his new “brother” Duke (Eric Stonestreet) his idyllic existence with owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) is disrupted. With the big, unruly pound dog taking over his apartment, Max laments to Chloe (Lake Bell), the cat upstairs. After frustrations between the dogs reach a boiling point while on an afternoon walk, the pair end up collarless and on the run, forced to evade Animal Control, stray cats (led by a gnarly skinless abomination voiced by Steve Coogan) and a militant abandoned pets group led by the adorable yet deadly bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart). When Gidget (Jenny Slate), Max’s next door neighbour and not so secret admirer notices he hasn’t returned from his walk, she goes into rescue mode and assembles a rag tag team of animals to help her find her lost love. Meanwhile Max and Duke have to work together to figure out how to return home to Katie.

The adventure moves at a rapid pace keeping audiences engaged in the harrowing cross town adventure of Max and Duke who – predictably – discover the importance of family and acceptance along the way. The only drawback is that because there are so many characters, there is barely time to give them each their due. Motivations are lacking and most supporting characters aren’t developed beyond a single characteristic, Chloe = fat cat, Mel (Bobby Moynihan) = squirrel obsessed pug, Pops (Dana Carvey) = old timer. The use of dream sequences add whimsy, but also a bit of confusion to the mix. However younger audiences will likely not notice, nor care, as by the end of this one-and-a-half-hour ride you feel great, and want to go hug a puppy (or cat, or snake…whatever you’re into). The Secret Life of Pets is a fun movie, the stakes are high and the characters (although one dimensional) are undeniably cute.

Reviewed by Vithiya Murugadas.