The Secret Life of Pets

I first saw the trailer for The Secret Life of Pets a year ago and saw it again throughout the year. Did I see the movie already? That's what it felt like. When the second trailer hit, I thought maybe I did. But let's see why that is...

Max the Dog loves his human, Katie. But Katie brings home Duke the big mutt. Max doesn't like Duke and Duke doesn't like that Max hates him. The next day, Duke drags Max into an alleyway, where mean cats steal their collars. Duke and Max get snatched by Animal Control and are saved by Snowball the Rabbit. Snowball is an abandoned pet who seeks to conquer the world with his Army of Misfit Pets.

Max and Duke quickly make enemies of Team Snowball and go on the run. They go to Brooklyn and bond during their incredible journey. Meanwhile, Max and Duke's pet neighbors, led by Gidget the White Pomeranian, set out to find them.

The premise, particularly Duke and Max's rivalry, makes it sound like Toy Story with Pets, and I thought it was once I saw the second trailer. But The Secret Life of Pets is not a direct copy of the older film. The characters and situations are developed differently in both films. Duke, as we find out, has a rough backstory hiding behind his lovable face. Buzz Lightyear didn't know he was a toy at first but Duke knew what would happen if he went back to the pound. So he is desperate to stay.

The film breezes along nicely during its 90 minutes. It's barely under the ten minute mark before Duke shows up. Max and Duke's adventures are quick and fun escapades for the kids. Snowball and his Pets aren't the threats they want to be, though they do impede Max twice during the climax. Still, there is a greater threat on the horizon: the possibility our heroes' owners will come home before them. What then?

The movie is set in an appealing rendition of New York City: bright, colorful and clean. I was surprised to find out the decent score was by Alexandre Desplat; I didn't recognize his musical style. The supporting animals come in many fun shapes and sizes. Their antics will certainly entertain the kids. As for me, Leonard the rocking poodle was awesome (too bad he doesn't speak). The film would've been better if we didn't first see many gags a year in advance.

The Secret Life of Pets is an appealing matinee for kids and fine for adults. There's no bite in their bark. Let's be grateful their bark wasn't any quieter. The fun starts off with Despicable Me's Minions in an amusing new short, Mower Minions. The film itself has a sneak-in ad for Illumination's next feature, Sing. That's on top of the more overt trailer you'll inevitably see.