Review of The Secret Life of Pets (2016) by Pipec — 21 Jul 2016

Toy Story With Pets.

"The Secret Life Of Pets" does not obtain the reflective level of films from Pixar or Dreamworks, nevertheless , it can entertain at least most of the movie. The analogies with the "Toy Story" franchise are relevant, this causes the originality is reduced to a couple of jokes and an incredible animated landscapes, detailed with realistic, brilliant and vivid colors. Pets' Story' pretends to be a recycled version of the animation classic, same narrative theme, same characters, same relationships, worse results. Story is a sophistry - but, we knew its plot - however, the film benefits of the vastness of oral and visual jokes, the connection between the protagonists, its screenplay and its professional cast of voices to entertain children and amuse to adults.

Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud conceive an urban environment as compelling as soul of the pets, but the charm is inversely proportional until to fall in state of trance, in generic state, a linear state. It is a child product, but we cannot underestimate children, they need beneficial films and last production of Illumination does not offer it. Taking advantage of recurrent formulas and few surprises, the characters give life to the project, not with the same satisfaction of toys, nevertheless, they make sacrifices to achieve it.

Max (Louis CK) modestly lives with his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) in a homey apartment in the center of Manhattan. What does Max do when Katie is not at home? Every morning, the adorable canine waits anxious and impatiently at the arrival of his owner, but he enjoys hour by hour with his friends of the building, other pets that do the same like Max; a self-centered and gluttonous cat called Chloe (Lake Bell), a distracted and grouch pug called Mel (Bobby Moynihan), a film bird and even a relaxed and unworried dachshund (Hannibal Burress). Ideal life for a domestic animal, unlimited food, friendly friends, a comfortable bed, a perfect owner, but what would happen if they aren't two plates of food, three plates of food at home?

Max has the drama of a only child, after Katie decided to adopt to Duke (Eric Stonestreet), a huge dog coffee; from there, the similarities with the film's toys are visible, two different beings who must join forces later a dispute between the two animals - I am amazed, it is the same premise -, they are defenceless in the real world, outside. Their enemies are a weak point which is added to the weaknesses of the film. The contrast of a cute white bunny (Snowball, Kevin Hart) with a wicked and vengeful rabbit is somewhat curious and very fruitful for the development, nevertheless, its ending is vain and unfinished, it did reduce consistency and weight to the story line.

Delicate it is observe that the prominence of the support characters was bigger than the main characters, as in the case of Gidget (Jenny Slate), madly in love for Max. She seeing that her platonic love does not return of the walk with his dog walker, she is alert and leaves to see her side most aggressive in order to rescue him, for this, she assembles one special squad and they take the path, an acceptable adventure. A girl in search of her lost brave prince, this plot works better than the 'copy and paste' from the main.

Illumination compensates for the lack of narrative originality with accustomed visual aspects of its movies, a sausage factory full of colors and charm curvatures, an alleyway with clothes hanging out on a rope and even sewers inhabited by stray animals are representations of the potential behind the minds of the company. Despite its visual magnetism and its auditory knowledge, it falls severely on the monotonous twists and predictable moments.

"The Secret Life Of Pets" wasted millions of opportunities, starting with a good story to tell; With what we saw, we wish that the life of our pets were a secret. Continuous laughs and sparkling graphics do not cover to the slow-paced of the film, nor vanish a history already narrated. It accomplishes the unique and poor function of a summer movie, entertain, nevertheless, we would have wished a product more beneficial. Pets had not to leave of their houses and their movie neither, one funny mistake but disappointing.