The Secret Life of Pets Film Review (Short Review)

What do our pets do when we're not around? Apparently they do everything that was in the oh, seventy some-odd trailers we've seen since last year from when the Minions movie was released.  I wasn't upset by the film, just a tad disappointed. Sure, it made me laugh, it didn't make me laugh until I burst into tears, but The Secret Life of Pets was a fun family experience. I've been waiting well-over a year in anticipation, well maybe not that long, but it sure felt like it when I was sitting through the billions (I'm being sarcastic of course) of movie trailers, but it was enjoyable. I went with my family, and it was what I've expected it to be. Although I can see that the film was trying to be something so unique, (or so it seemed at-the-time) than all those other feel-good family comedies, but it sadly disappointed in trying not toss together every cliche storyline for any one of these films. The voice acting was great, and the characters were funny, and Louis C.K. being christened this generation's comedian, although I feel Doug Stanhope makes him look well....G-Rated, I found his ability to do this sort of film intriguing, because he kind of pulls a George Carlin via Mr. Conductor action here, and it is well-done in thwt regard. The film didn't have too many double entendres, all made by Kevin Hart, who no estly was the best part of the whole film. His blatant method voice acting, along with that high-profile iconic rhetoric makes him the whole reason this film succeeds. The whole shtick he does feel natural,MIT doesn't feel like it was rehearsed, and if it was all improvisation, than it was really good. The whole bit with the blender, although it was pure dialogue made me laugh because it was just so unexpected, and yet simple. 

     The Secret Life of Pets from Ilumination Studios is an animated family "dramedy"  about what our pets do when we're not around. The studio's previous works are the highly-acclaimed Despicable Me, it's sequel, and the standalone Minions film. This film breaks away from these series, and is both familiar, yet different. The film stars Louis C.K. as Max, a dog that lives with his female owner, and Duke, the newest addition to the growing family. The story is very cookie cutter, almost ironically-so, the only fun comes from Kevin Hart, who really brings character to the bunny.  I'm wishy-washy about this film, I keep in mind that this is a family film, mostly designed for bringing little kids into the theater, and using names like Louis C.K., and Kevin Hart to make the film interesting to adults.  The story is easily summed up as: dog has external conflict with new dog coming in and taking over his utopian life, dog has internal conflict over whether or not he wants this new dog as his brother, and extending his family. Then there is the external conflict of them getting lost in the big city,finding their way home, and in-doing-so on some weird acid trip involving sausages, they come together, and it shows the simplicity of dogs, but acts as almost and excuse of simplicity in the plot. Let's just say if I was digging for a plot, a toothpick would be overkill. Then there are the supporting characters, who come out to help Max, and come together to hunt him and Duke down. Then the villian becomes a hero in a dramatic turnover from hell to baby face, as he jumps in and saves his arch nemesis's life. 

     I almost wish there was more risk taken in the story, because the hype for this movie was so huge, that it has one of the most successful marketing campaigns around. I get it though! It's a kid film, you do to want to complicate it too much to appease some overly elitist critic that wants depth for a kids show,mbut it could've been different, and it was a sad, sad shame full of same. Granted, this film could've been much much worst, and have jokes that didn't stick, but I wasn't yearning for more, I  wasn't feeling like this film needs a sequel, and even though it was good, it was expected, and with the campaign this film ran, I'd have appuladed an epic failure of originality over what the successful acclaim of sameness that I sat through. Overall the film was good, it lacked in story, the typical plot holes thwt require a bit of imagination, and it was fun to watch, I did legitimately laugh, but I was hoping for more.