Secret Life of Pets has been brought to the screen by Illumination Entertainment, the guys responsible for such films as “Minions Movie”, “Despicable Me 1 and 2“, and now Secret Life of Pets.
It is a family film but has the odd bit of adult humour in there. I found it hilariously funny as did my two children one 8 years of age, and the other 14. So to me, it was an all rounder family film.
It focuses on what happens when “humans” leave their family pets whilst they are at work etc. The film doesn’t just focus on dogs and cats, it also has snakes, lizards, crocodiles, pig, as well as a lovely fluffy bunny called Snowball. Snowball is voiced by comedian and actor Kevin Hart. He plays a truly amazing fluffy bunny.
The film starts off with the story of how Max became his owner (Kate) roommate. Max has been with Kate since he was a puppy, and he has grown to be a loyal dog, his “pet hate”, excuse the pun, is when Kate leaves for work he tries everything for her to stay. When Kate eventually leaves and kisses him goodbye, Max waits by the door waiting for her return. Max then starts talking to his neighbour Gidget. When Kate returns that night she has a surprise for Max a new brother, who is a rather large dog named Duke. They don’t get off to the best starts together.
And Max makes it clear he wants Duke out of their lives!
Anyway, whilst Kate is at work a local dog walker takes Duke and Max out along with the whole block of dogs for a walk to the park. The dog walker gets distracted, forgets to unleash Max properly, and Max starts winding up Duke then. Duke sees an opportunity to get his own back on Max, it goes wrong and they end up in an alleyway sized up by an alley full of cats and a kitten pulling a “puss in boots” look and ends up going psychotic on Max and Duke.
They then end up in Animal Control van, and as they are on their way to the pound, the animal control officers spot a little fluffy bunny in the middle of the road. One officer gets out and starts baby-talking to the bunny, then the bunny turns and starts poking his eyes out and karate chopping the guy.
The bunny, a pig named Tattoo and a Lizard were now in control of the animal control van, crashed it and were busting out their bulldog friend who was muzzled. Max and Duke witnessed all this in their locked cell and asked the bunny to bust them out too.
Fluffy bunny refused to help domesticated pets that had owners, and this is where Max and Duke unite and state they killed their owner. So now the adventure begins in Max and Duke to join Snowball’s gang and get through the initiation of welcome by being bitten by a one fang viper.
Things take a turn for the worse for Max and Duke, and they escape from Snowball and his gang and jump on a boat to Brooklyn. Snowball attempts to track them down along with Max and Dukes friends from the block. It’s a race against time to get back in time for when their owners get home. I won’t spoil too much as it won’t be worth you going to see it if I give anymore away haha.
This film is filmed with plenty of laughter, and a sad moment at one point where we learn about Dukes past. It’s a fully fledged family film that you will want to see over and over again. And the added bonus of going to see it is you get to see a mini Minion movie before it begins. Winner winner
Chrissie loves movies and spends a lot of her time with her kids at the local multi-plex watching a great selection of kids movies.
