You know how the Disney/Pixar classic Toy Story asks the question, "What do all of my toys do when I'm not in the room?" The Secret Life of Pets asks that same question, only, you know, with pets.
For the most part, it works. It allows for a diverse cast of characters including a rabbit, a guinea pig, a hawk and (most prominently) multiple breeds of cats and dogs, each of which adds something to the formula. It also offers familiarity, as you can watch the well-animated animals on screen and say, "That's totally like my own dog!"
But it also treads some familiar ground. Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) is the favorite toy -- err, I mean, pet — of Katie (Ellie Kemper), and his life as an "only child" is wonderful. At least until Katie brings home a new dog, Duke (Eric Stonestreet), and the rivalry for top dog status leads to both animals getting stranded away from home. If they want to get back to Katie, they'll have to learn how to get along, especially when a villainous rabbit named Snowball (Kevin Hart) stands in their way.
You could make many comparisons to the journey of Woody and Buzz, but you probably get the gist.
Of course, kids aren't likely to mind. For them, there's a lot to love. The animation is wonderful, leading to plenty of colorful visual gags and over-the-top situations. This is the same animation studio that brought you Minions, so they've had a lot of experience lately in crafting jokes that don't rely on dialogue.
But your children might not know how to react to jokes about animals killing humans and disillusioned former pets who want to hear all the gory details when they think some new mob recruits murdered their owner. These bits aren't too grisly and don't get too drawn out, but they feel out of place in what is presumably a kids' movie. Some of the dialogue here (and elsewhere) makes it seem as if Illumination Entertainment knows that it would benefit from some humor that's aimed more at the adults in the audience, but it still needs some practice when it comes to balancing those jokes with the needs of younger viewers.
Still, when it's more focused on having fun, The Secret Life of Pets has moments where it shines. Jenny Slate is highly enjoyable as the voice of Gidget, a Pomeranian who's crazy in love with Max, and Albert Brooks has some laughable moments as Tiberius, a hawk who's resisting his primal urge to eat all the small animals around him.
Clocking in at an hour and a half, one of the better aspects of The Secret Life of Pets might be that it doesn't really outstay its welcome. There aren't a lot of slow moments, so when a scene isn't really doing it for you, you can rest assured that it will be over quickly.
And hey, at least it's not another Minions movie. Can't we all just celebrate that?
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (B-)
Directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney. PG (for action and rude humor). 91 minutes. In wide release.
