So many death jokes.

*WARNING SPOILERS*

A review of The Secret Life of Pets

I do have to say this year feels like The Year of Animals with films like; Zootropolis, Finding Dory, Sing, Angry Birds, Ice Age 5, Kung Fu Panda 3, and of course The Secret Life of Pets. All of these are trying to be their own cog in the bigger clock and it is beginning to feel a bit samey. Nevertheless, out of the ones I have seen I've laughed and cried and I have definitely been entertained.

Before I begin this review, I would like to say I am not the biggest fan of animated movies; I would much rather go and watch a live action film. However, I did thoroughly enjoy The Secret Life of Pets. In three words, I would say it was entertaining, amusing and accurate. Each animal had the typical traits you would expect, from the dogs obsessing over balls and the cats sitting anywhere they can fit (Chloe sits in a small bowl at one point). 

This film sees a terrier named Max's world turn upside down as his owner brings home a new dog. This new dog happens to be Giant. His name is Duke and at first the two animals don't get along. After a series of events the pair get sucked into the sewers where a cult of neglected animals plan to take over the world. These animals don't like pets so Duke and Max become the enemy and the adventure ensues ending with, of course, a happy ending where Max and Duke are friends and the, once evil, bunny finds a loving home. Now you are probably thinking, that sounds like every other family adventure movie out there (which it is) but what I really enjoyed about this film was the individual characteristics displayed by the animals. Nothing was left out, just like Zootropolis finally put headphones into the animals ears, this film showed exactly what dogs do when they see a squirrel in a tree. Bark at it until it goes away. 

To review an animated film, in my opinion, is much harder than to review a live action one. With live action you are physically seeing the acting and the effects but with a film like this all you can really talk about is plotline, voices and detail. To me, the plot line was cliche and I feel like there was way too much mention of death. I know in our day and age we have become desensitized to the notion but to use it as a means for a laugh in a children's film, I find, is slightly inappropriate. I mean did that snake really have to be crushed 4 times? Also, when Duke found out about his owner it didn't upset me or emotionally connect me to the character because I had seen it coming from the overwhelming amount of times death had been mentioned.

In terms of the animation itself, it was amazing; not to as high a standard as Zootropolis but then again The Walt Disney Company is the God of all animation and detail. Having said this, I did really like how the hair on each animal made it seem like you could feel the animals texture just by looking at them. Also, there was a moment when the animals are driving a bus around the city and on the back is a poster for Sing (a nod to the upcoming film by the same name). Acting wise, the voice actors matched their respective animals perfectly and Kevin Hart as Snowball was deeply amusing and I have never related with a character so much. Cute and fluffy on the outside, deadly on the inside.

Overall, I found the movie fun and entertaining but I definitely believe it's for the younger generation who won't understand the death jokes and instead just see the exciting adventure that is wrapped up in this 90 minute animation. 

Thank you for reading,
Haynes.