MOVIE REVIEW: The Secret Life of Pets

WHAT exactly do our furry animal friends get up to when we close the door and head off for the day? A question without answer, unless of course you have some video surveillance equipment and plenty of time on your hands. 

Yes, a head scratcher that has puzzled many a pet owner throughout time, until now that is, as the folks over at Illumination Entertainment have decided to let us in on the secret.

For one bustling Manhattan apartment building, the real day starts after the creatures on two legs leave for work and school. 

That’s when the pets of every stripe, fur and feather begin their own nine-to-five routine: hanging out with each other, trading humiliating stories about their owners, or auditioning adorable looks to get better snacks. 

The building’s top dog, Max, a quick-witted terrier rescue who’s convinced he sits at the centre of his owner’s Katie’s universe, finds his pampered life rocked when she brings home Duke, a sloppy, massive mess of a mongrel with zero interpersonal skills. When this reluctant canine duo finds themselves out on the mean streets of New York, they have to set aside their differences and unite against a fluffy-yet-cunning bunny named Snowball, who’s building an army of pets who’ve been abandoned by their owners and are out to turn the tables on humanity.

The film starts with a super opening sequence that will have you hooked on the colourful visuals, snappy music and humorous situations. 

We visit each apartment and each animal occupant to see the bizarre antics that they undertake on a daily basis, in what resembles many YouTube pet videos you will have already seen. 

This really is the meat and bones of the movie and when it’s over, we’re left with a story that’s somewhat lacking in direction, as the characters head out into the real world in a somewhat aimless fashion. 

The plot is nicely tied up in the end however and there’s enough here to keep both kids and adults entertained. Far from a dog’s dinner, and of decent pedigree, we score this film 3 out of 5 stars. 

Paul O’Rourke