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| Courtesy of Universal |
When
I saw the phenomenal trailer for Illumination’s (the studio behind Despicable
Me and Minions) latest animated feature – which shows viewers what pets are
up to when their owners go to work – I simultaneously laughed my head off and
hoped that I wasn’t seeing all the best jokes. Luckily, the preview saved a lot
of funny stuff for the actual movie.
Brought
to life by talented animators and a wonderfully eclectic voice cast, The
Secret Life of Pets tells the story of Max (Louis. C.K.), a New York City dog
who lives for the moment his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) walks through the door
to their apartment. But one day, she’s accompanied by a new friend – an
enormous, overbearing mutt named Duke (Eric Stonestreet).
The
two dogs immediately become rivals, competing for Katie’s affections and trying
to get rid of one another. During a trip to the park, they take it too far and
end up in the clutches of animal control. They’re eventually bailed out by a
crazed rabbit named Snowball (Kevin Hart), but only because he wants them to
join his gang of abandoned pets.
If
the dogs are going to get out of their mess, it’ll be up to Max’s friends (a
host of pets voiced by Jenny Slate, Albert Brooks, Lake Bell, Hannibal Buress,
Bobby Moynihan and Dana Carvey) to track them down and come to their aid. Oh,
and they all have to get back home before their owners realize they’re gone.
The
Secret Life of Pets is the kind of entertainment that’s perfect for family
movie night. Screenwriters Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch and Cinco Paul do a fine job
of juggling the tone and content of the material to serve the audience’s
various tastes. Kids can laugh at the cute animals and poop jokes, while
teenagers and parents will appreciate the well-crafted jokes. The writers also
find creative ways to mine humor from seemingly tired premises, like the
never-ending “dogs versus cats” debate.
Unfortunately,
the script’s episodic nature works against it a bit. Unlike Pixar’s best
efforts, which connect with audiences on a profoundly emotional level because
story beats continually build upon one another, this movie works better moment
to moment. One kind of storytelling isn’t necessarily better than another, but
only one seems designed to be memorable in the long run.
The
film is visually striking, full of dazzling colors and creative character
designs. Co-directors Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney, along with the animators,
ensure that animals of all shapes, sizes, and species are represented in the
pet world. I also like that they’re more aesthetically pleasing than their
human counterparts. After all, the movie is named after them and not their
owners.
Best
of all, the cast is absolutely perfect. Louis C.K. is a spot-on vocal choice
for Max because of his hangdog (pun only partially intended) delivery. It’s
initially a little jarring to hear the racy comedian put his skills to use in a
family film, but his performance continues to prove (alongside his incredible
FX show Louie and the critically acclaimed web series Horace and Pete) how
much range he has as an actor.
Hart
uses his manic energy to great effect as the story’s manic antagonist, who
comes across as a contemporary, more insane version of Bugs Bunny. He makes no
effort to modulate his instantly recognizable voice, but it makes sense for his
character.
Slate
is equally memorable as a hyperactive fluffball nursing a secret crush on Max,
and Bell is a riot as the gang’s sole feline member who couldn’t be more
disinterested in the whole affair. I was also impressed by Brooks’ dynamic range
– he’s a prominent character in two animated films currently playing in
theaters (the other being Finding Dory, of course), but his performance here
is so dynamic that you forget he’s also Marlin.
I’ve
got a feeling that The Secret Life of Pets is going to be a big hit with
audiences. Illumination isn’t exactly sequel-averse with its other major
franchise, so we’ll probably get to spend a lot more time with Max, Duke,
Snowball and all their friends.
The
Secret Life of Pets is rated PG for action and some rude humor.
Grade:
B+
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