FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Secret Life of Pets
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Yarrow Cheney, Chris Renaud
Starring: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart
Runtime: 1 hr 27 mins

What It Is: When little dog Max (C.K.) gets a new roommate in the much bigger Duke (Stonestreet). When the two don’t see eye to eye, literally or ideologically the two begin a sibling rivalry of sorts. As this rivalry goes it leads both of them on a path they were not expecting including meetings with sinister cats and megalomaniacal bunnies like Snowball (Hart). Will Max be able to free himself from the city he never understood and get home to his Katie (voiced by Ellie Kemper)?

What We Think: There’s a lot that really wanted to work here but sadly did not. First off the narrative is inherently flawed. Not only does the relationship escalate super quickly but the built is out of nowhere. I think that some of the voice work is decent enough, however. When looking into that Louis C.K. stands out as does Kevin Hart. Stonestreet is blasé with his work. When discussing the animation it isn’t anything to write home about. I like the style but not the execution.

Our Grade: C+, Not extraordinary in any way but good enough. This is solidly entertaining kids flick that your child can enjoy. There isn’t much in the way of humor for the older crowd, but I don’t think Universal and Illumination care about the adult dollar. Look at their films including and since their first which was  2010’s Despicable Me shows a track record of film that doesn’t offer much for adults but is charming regardless. I recommend that if you enjoy kids movie or have kids yourself, particularly very young ones, you check this out. Their next film Sing hits in December and it seems like more of the same from Universal/Illumination.