Director Chris Renaud, Yarrow Cheney
Genre Animation | Family | Comedy
Cast Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Eric Stonestreet, Jenny Slate
Rating PG
Release Date July 8th, 2016
“Taking place in a Manhattan apartment building, Max’s life as a favorite pet is turned upside down, when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke. They have to put their quarrels behind when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all happy-owned pets and their owners.”
The Secret Life of Pets is directed by Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud, the duo behind Despicable Me 1 & 2. This is the third animated feature film for Illumination Entertainment, now owned by Universal Studios, the first two being the Despicable Me films and Minions. The film stars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), Kevin Hart, and Jenny Slate (Parks and Rec, Zootopia).
The Secret Life of Pets is a very imaginative and fun feel-good comedy for the entire family, guaranteed to put a smile on your face. If you are a pet lover you simply owe it to yourself to see this movie. I couldn’t even count the amount of times I found myself saying "that is definitely my dog/cat!" Kudos to the team behind the film for putting together something that such a widespread audience can appreciate. It is sure to please everyone from your 5-year-old to your 80-year-old grandmother! Although The Secret Life of Pets didn’t quite live up to the bar set by Inside Out or Zootopia (both of which included a much deeper message), it will stand on its own nonetheless. Also, as an added bonus we were treated to a Minions short film before the film which was absolutely hilarious. I love those little yellow guys.
When it comes to animated films built on comedic chemistry between its voice actors, The Secret Life of Pets is easily of the upper echelon. The cast is lead by hilarious comedian turned TV star, Louis C.K., who is absolutely perfect for the role of Max. Eric Stonestreet, who most people will know from the comedy Modern Family, plays the role of Duke and as usual it is impossible to dislike the guy. Former SNL star, Jenny Slate was crucial to the success of the film in her role as the adorable little dog Gidget. As a big fan of Kevin Hart, I was not surprised to find that his role as the troublemaking rabbit was easily my favorite. Hart couldn’t help but to make an impression with his trademark over-the-top humor which fit perfectly.
The Secret Life of Pets is a fun-filled comedy for the entire family and a guiltless reason to visit the theater this summer. Given the fact that the plot and overall message isn't quite as far reaching as this years animated hit, Zootopia, I can't bring myself to place it at the top of the list of must-see movies but it is easily in the top 5. The Secret Life of Pets will satisfy your craving for pure unadulterated entertainment and is guaranteed to tickle your funny bone, so be sure to check it out sooner rather than later. Considering its success in the box office, my guess is we will see some sort of sequel. Bring it on!
