Review of The Secret Life of Pets (2016) by Thequietgamer — 23 Jan 2017

Ever wonder what your pets get into when you're not around? Well, it turns out their adventures are darker and more violent than you might expect. However the results are still plenty amusing. Plus it's got a high quality cast and inventive characters and scenarios.

The real problem with the movie is that it feels all to familiar to the Pixar classic Toy Story. The rivalry main characters Max and Duke have over their place in the world is very much akin to that of Buzz and Woody. Given that they feel so generic and just end up going through the familiar motion makes it hard to care about them. It's the side characters that really steal your heart.

Oh, and what supporting characters they are. Jenny Slate's Gidget has a quest that is far more compelling than the leads. Kevin Hart steals the show as the hilarious villain "Snowball." Every member of the voice cast does an incredible job and fit their character perfectly, but none are able to match Hart. His energy and performance are incredible. This is probably his best work yet. He really does deserve some awards for this.

For what Secret Life of Pets lacks in storytelling strength it more than makes up for in humor. There's a surprising originality to the gags and one-liners on display. Something that makes the movie feel like a fresh face in the ever growing crowd of animated movies. Some of it is questionable though. Particularly for kids.

With topics like death and violence sometimes sneaking their way in, this might not be the best choice for all kids. For more discerning parents though, the humor and characters could make this a darn fine option for family movie night. The storytelling woes are noticeable, but the humor usually does a fair job of compensating for it. Thankfully the movies lightning pace means there's always a fresh set of jokes waiting for you right around the next corner.