Review of The Secret Life of Pets (2016) by Ageeknamedbob — 08 Jul 2016

SECRET LIFE OF PETS was bland and mostly humorless - although there are touches that lead to a few laughs; usually in the manner of incorporating the animals natural, normal actions; my focus being on the cats as I'm a catguy.

Plotwise it's a retread of TOY STORY, with the a few additions. Unlike PIXAR'S classic, all the characters are one-note and without anything endearing to make them stick; and such we don't really care about them.

Both the leads, Max and Duke, are **** - straight up. Woody and Buzz are both jerks, too but they have their reasons and their changes as they grow through the film(s). instead Max and Duke: "I hate you, I hate you.

Hey you're alright. We're friends".It's almost like they found out their mom's names are both Martha. Doesn't help that they are voiced by Louis CK and Eric Stonestreet (two actors I normally like); both with rather droll voices.

The other voice actors do just fine with what they're given: the standout being the continual stand out of Albert Brooks (with FINDING DORY makes him in two animated features right now). A problem is there is little energy; sequences that could be entertaining (such as some slapstick or Looney Tunes inspired bits) plod along.

I feel a better edit, moving at a faster clip, would bring much more to the proceedings. On the weird end, there is a dusting of death to it all; it is continually threatened and even happens a few times, strange for such a light film.

Finally in Bob Overthinks Things Corner: I question the level of sentience. Max doesn't know the name of a spoon but knows all sorts of tougher concepts and stuff he shouldn't' know if he spends all day looking at a door or playing with a ball.

If the pets (and other animals) have sentience, why do they act in some ways? Why keep it hidden? Okay, one more final note: the MINIONS short before the film was just bloody awful. Uninspired and underwhelming.

Prime example of how not to build humor and gags, they lean on "look a Minion with a leaf blower! hahahahaha!" and fail to build each part until a climax.