THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS MOVIE

The two jealous, love-envy dogs scheme against each other. Max is pals with the selfish, snippy cat Chloe (voiced by Lake Bell), who purrs, вЂњAs your friend I donвЂ™t care about you, or your problems.вЂќДЄnd it is with those deaf ears that Chloe listens to Max pour his heartache out after Katie brings home a big buffoon mutt named Duke (voiced by Eric Stonestreet, вЂњModern FamilyвЂќ), who steals MaxвЂ™s thunder and their ownerвЂ™s attention. In a language they understand, pets converse behind closed doors. HeвЂ™s a sociable terrier, the big paw on campus in her building.

It's easy to imagine a sequel focused on her getting the gang back together to help another one of their own meanwhile, here's hoping they all have cozy laps to curl up on.When Katie (Ellie Kemper, вЂњThe OfficeвЂќ) shuts the door of her New York apartment, she has no idea what her rescue dog Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) does. And Slate's Gidget proves that she's so much more than a pampered puffball her loyalty to Max is unwavering, and she stretches far beyond her comfort zone to help him. Somewhere in the midst of Snowball's many motor-mouthed blasts, Hart conveys the bunny's underlying loneliness and sadness this is a rabbit who truly thinks of his fellow cast-offs as family, not just minions. The characters have an appealing depth, too, aided by the talented actors providing their voices. And Max and Duke's sibling-like relationship could particularly resonate with blended families or those dealing with rivalry/resentment issues.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS MOVIE

While meaningful messages aren't quite as front-and-center in The Secret Life of Pets as they were in, say Zootopia, the movie has clear themes of perseverance and teamwork. And the plot, while not exactly unique (it's hard to miss the parallels to Toy Story, for instance), moves at a good clip, with enough twists and imaginative details to keep you fully engaged. It's amusing to see what Max and his buddies get up to when their people are gone for the day, from watching telenovelas to raiding the fridge to rocking out to heavy metal music. Show moreДЇunny and engaging, with an excellent voice cast, this animated animal adventure will entertain audiences of all ages, with perhaps an extra dollop of appeal for devoted pet owners. Max and Duke's relationship could particularly resonate with blended families and/or those dealing with sibling issues. There's some bodily function humor (a Chihuahua pees on the floor in excitement, dogs sniff each other's rear ends, etc.), a fair bit of insult language ('dumb,' 'stupid,' 'weirdo,' 'idiots,' 'cry baby,' etc.), and one use of swear stand-in 'holy schnitzel.' But underlying all this are positive messages about friendship, teamwork, perseverance, and empathy - as well as the futility of revenge and the importance of being open to new friends and the experiences that life brings. At one point it looks like a main character may not survive, and one bad guy dies in an altercation. Animals discuss killing people (one anti-human animal character is impressed when others claim to have offed their former owners and detail how they did it). They also dodge Animal Control officers navigate dank, gloomy sewers face off against an enormous viper and other predators/angry animals and confront each other via barking, growling, yelling, and more. Main characters Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) and Duke ( Eric Stonestreet) are frequently chased, sometimes on foot and sometimes in cars/vans/buses, which bang into things, crash, and catch on fire. In the movie's case, it involves quite a bit of danger and peril - which isn't what was showcased in the movie's promotional campaign.

Parents need to know that The Secret Life of Pets is a clever, engaging adventure about what our dogs, cats, birds, and other domesticated creatures get up to when we're not around.

The secret life of pets