Review of The Secret Life of Pets (2016) by Ethan P — 21 Aug 2016

The Secret Life of Pets is cute, funny and mildly enjoyable, but it uses up almost every good joke in the trailer. It is exactly what the critics consensus claims: undemanding. While the animation is colorful and interesting, especially the two dogs tripping balls in the sausage factory, it isn't inventive or particularly different from any other kids movie.

It is occasionally amusing and it's premise is gold, but it milks its premise dry. Much of the humor is based on the idea of discovering what pets do when their owners leave and it runs out of steam like half way through.

It's also very weird with its rabid, psychotic, cult-leading bunny and tattooed pigs that gather in the sewers. It was very odd in that way and even with that craziness, the plot was still mostly harmless and dull until the end where the two main characters almost drown.

I didn't really enjoy the film, but I appreciated some of its initial fun jokes and creativity.