Title: Movie Review: The Secret Life of Pets
Author: Gypsy Rose
Recovered Author: Gypsy Rose
Published Date: 2016-09-30
Original URL: https://geeknode.co.za/2016/09/movie-review-secret-life-pets
Wayback URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20161013050119id_/http://www.geeknode.co.za:80/2016/09/movie-review-secret-life-pets/
Recovery Confidence: high
Categories: Movie Reviews
Tags: animation, Comedy, featured, Pixar, review, Secret Life of Pets

- Genre Animation
- Director Chris Renaud, Yarrow Cheney
- Producer Illumination Entertainment
- Actors Kevin Hart, Louis C.K., Lake Bell, Bobby Moynihan, Hannibal Buress, Jenny Slate, Eric Stonestreet, Ellie Kemper, Albert Brooks, Dana Carvey.
- Reviewed on Cinema (2D)
- Available on Cinema (2D)
- Air Date 2016-09-30

- Gypsy Rose

- 2 weeks ago

- 0 0

Breaking away from the typical cutesy/slapstick style of animation comedies that seem to be flooding our cinemas in these times, I found The Secret life of Pets to be refreshing as an animated film that is enjoyable for people of all ages. This definitely will be exceeding your expectations of a Pixar film – more so, one that is so predictably titled The Secret Life of Pets. Not as cutesy as Minions nor as dramatic as Finding Nemo, Secret Life of Pets seems to be sitting on the perfect balance of all things that make an animation perfect. Don’t get me wrong; there is plenty of cutesy – but the film also touches on themes of adventure, drama, gangsterism and of course, romance (because what would a Pixar film be without it?)

Set in a 21 st century New York city, the film bursts onto screen with the energy and image of the Big Apple, and then further reveals to us the most clever ideas of what really goes on in the quotidian life of the four legged (and two legged) friends of New Yorkers after they leave for the day. But really, that’s only where the story begins. Max, a Jack Russel terrier voiced by Louis C.K, has his world turned upside down the day his best friend, life partner, and owner, Katie( Ellie Kemper), brings home a new dog. Duke (Eric Stonestreet) is big, brown, shaggy, and in Max’s opinion, he cannot stay. At first it’s just the annoyance of his presence bothering Max – but then Duke decides to show his dark side, and Max learns what it is to really be out of place in his own home.

Buddy (Hannibal Buress)

You’d think that bit of conflict is the primary plot of the film, but no. This movie becomes rather complicated, and one could almost say it’s even a little too complicated for the kid’s film it’s intended to be. Many different story lines begin to cross over when Duke gets dog-napped, and the story spirals into a full blown New York adventure which finds Max and Duke meeting many types of pets, as well as abandoned and underground creatures and critters, all the while discovering the ins and outs of the city and making their way towards the film’s final resolve. And while I can’t give that away, I can tell you that this movie will have you reeled in at every second of it’s fun-(and fur)-filled adventure.

Featuring an all-star cast, with big names such as Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Albert Brooks, Dana Carvey and Bobby Moynihan,The Secret Life of Pets is an all-rounder silver screen success. Having said that, though it was magical to see the first time, I can’t say I’d really see it over and over again.

That may have something to do with the fact that I’m a cat lover and this is really a pro-dog film,

but as good Pixar movies go, ultimately, you’ll get a chuckle out of this one no matter what cute critter you’re keeping in your heart.

Chloe, Max and Mel (Lake Bell, Louis C.K. and Bobby Moynihan.)

Breaking away from the typical cutesy/slapstick style of animation comedies that seem to be flooding our cinemas in these times, I found The Secret life of Pets to be refreshing as an animated film that is enjoyable for people of all ages. This definitely will be exceeding your expectations of a Pixar film – more so, one that is so predictably titled The Secret Life of Pets. Not as cutesy as Minions nor as dramatic as Finding Nemo, Secret Life of Pets seems to be sitting on the perfect balance of all things that make an animation perfect. Don’t get me wrong; there is plenty of cutesy – but the film also touches on themes of adventure, drama, gangsterism and of course, romance (because what would a Pixar film be without it?) Set in a 21st century New York city, the film bursts onto screen with the energy and image of the Big Apple, and then further reveals to us the most clever ideas of what really goes on in the quotidian life of the four legged (and two legged) friends of New Yorkers after they leave for the day. But really, that’s only where the story begins. Max, a Jack Russel terrier voiced by Louis C.K, has his world turned upside down the day his best friend, life partner, and owner, Katie( Ellie Kemper), brings home a new dog. Duke (Eric Stonestreet) is big, brown, shaggy, and in Max’s opinion, he cannot stay. At first it’s just the annoyance of his presence bothering Max – but then Duke decides to show his dark side, and Max learns what it is to really be out of place in his own home. [caption id="attachment_137972" align="aligncenter" width="950"] Buddy (Hannibal Buress)[/caption] You’d think that bit of conflict is the primary plot of the film, but no. This movie becomes rather complicated, and one could almost say it’s even a little too complicated for the kid’s film it’s intended to be. Many different story lines begin to cross over when Duke gets dog-napped, and the story spirals into a full blown New York adventure which finds Max and Duke meeting many types of pets, as well as abandoned and underground creatures and critters, all the while discovering the ins and outs of the city and making their way towards the film’s final resolve. And while I can’t give that away, I can tell you that this movie will have you reeled in at every second of it’s fun-(and fur)-filled adventure. Featuring an all-star cast, with big names such as Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Albert Brooks, Dana Carvey and Bobby Moynihan,The Secret Life of Pets is an all-rounder silver screen success. Having said that, though it was magical to see the first time, I can’t say I’d really see it over and over again. That may have something to do with the fact that I’m a cat lover and this is really a pro-dog film, but as good Pixar movies go, ultimately, you’ll get a chuckle…

Movie Review: The Secret Life of Pets

Movie Review: The Secret Life of Pets

2016-09-30

Gypsy Rose

New York from a Four Legged Point of View

Total - 7.5

75

7.5

Refreshingly rather different to the typical slapstick/cutesy cartoon expectation of an animated film, The Secret Life of Pets proves to be big on New York, big on action, and big on adventure, in a fast paced feature that will definitely be enjoyable for the whole family.

User Rating: Be the first one !

8

The Secret Life of Pets opens in cinemas across the nation today.

Article Tags:
animation · Comedy · featured · Pixar · review · Secret Life of Pets

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