Max tells us how Katie found him when he was a puppy, and since then, he's had it good. The film opens in New York City, where a little dog named Max (voice of Louis CK) is going for a bike ride around the park with his owner Katie (voice of Ellie Kemper).It’s cute, funny, family friendly and I’d wager you’ll leave the theater with a smile on your face.The synopsis below may give away important plot points.
I was quite frankly surprised by just how good “The Secret Life of Pets” looked.ĭespite its few faults and unfortunate similarity to “Toy Story,” “The Secret Life of Pets” has a lot in it to be enjoyed. But beyond the wide shots I really enjoyed the distinct style of each of the environments throughout the film, and how the exaggerated animation style really fed into them making each vibrant and distinct. One of my favorite thing about the film is its portrayal of cityscapes, with a few surprisingly stunning shots scattered throughout the film. In fact, its animation is one of the things that “The Secret Life of Pets” does best, and that isn’t just limited to characters. This is most obviously seen in a hilarious sequence with a Weiner Dog, but it’s really present in nearly every scene. Instead of realism, “The Secret Life of Pets” opts for a much more stylized animation, reminiscent of 2009’s “UP.” Animals and people have overly exaggerated features, allowing not only for easy characterization by appearance, but also very heavily contributing towards the physical comedy of the film. Now one thing that “The Secret Life of Pets” does do better than “Toy Story” is make itself enjoyable to look at. That’s certainly not a blow toward “The Secret Life of Pets.” It’s an entertaining film in its own right but in the second act when it’s time for the film to carry itself without the novelty of its premise, it does drop the ball a bit. When the novelty of the gimmick wears off, “Toy Story” does a better job of just being a good film. Regardless, you can see why comparisons will be drawn between this film and “Toy Story.” Setting aside that it’s hugely influential and a classic, “Toy Story” is the better of the two for one simple yet significant reason. It doesn’t really negatively affect the film to a great degree, but the experience would be better if we’d spent more time with the more enjoyable characters of the film. But it’s a testament to the sheer size of the cast that despite all these great characters, the film still felt lacking in that regard. is serviceable as the lost dog Max while Jenny Slate, Lake Bell, Albert Brooks and Kevin Hart put in great performances. When one of them becomes lost, the others set out on an adventure through the city in search of them.
The major reason that “The Secret Life of Pets” will be compared to “Toy Story” is that it shares the premise that something we encounter each day has a secret life going on right behind our backs.įor “The Secret Life of Pets,” that something is quite literally in the title as the film revolves around the adventures of the pets in a New York apartment complex while their owners are away. “The Secret Life of Pets” is a cute, funny film who’s largest failing is that it’s going to be compared to Toy Story.īut even with that comparison and a slow second act, it’s a fun film to watch and a great opportunity for a family outing. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures/Illumination Productions
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