But I don't have a behavioural disorder.
The Secret Life of Pets was a 2016 release from Illumination Pictures, who most famously gifted us with Despicable Me and Minions. It proved to be very much a retread of Toy Story, and not just in the basic premise of 'what domestic critters get up to when their owners aren't looking'. There was established dog Max, who found his position in owner Katie's home threatened by shaggy mongrel interloper Duke. His attempt to sabotage Duke landed them both in a heap of trouble, and they bonded to get themselves out, while an assortment of furry companions sought to help them. See? Toy Story with pets. It had cutely observed characters and typically superb animation, but the story suffered from being plain derivative. (Not that its main target audience would care a jot.)
Pets 2 is a more confident film all round in story terms, the characters having been solidly established, so that they can be sent off in original and fun directions. Max is dealing with the arrival of baby Liam into Katie's life - a positive development, but one that also underscores the jack russell terrier's sense of danger, causing him acute anxiety. This is exacerbated when he and Duke accompany the family to a working farm with all its manifold terrors. Back home fluff-ball pomeranian Gidget watches helplessly as the toy with which Max has entrusted her rolls into the home of a crazy cat-lady; then with help from pampered and cynical moggie Chloe, she tries to pass herself off as a cat to get it back. And in the most left-field of the plot lines, one-time street bunny Snowball teams up with sassy shih tzu Daisy to rescue an illegally imprisoned snow tiger from a dastardly circus owner. There's a whole lot going on here.
The plot-lines are disparate, although there's a vague thematic link of facing your fears and they all tie together in the final act. Where they do succeed is in being fast-paced and engaging, providing opportunity for character development; these fuzzy protagonists really do start to grow on you in this second chapter. Tough-guy Snowball spars with attitude-laden newcomer Daisy, this voice reunion for Night School's Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish spicing up the repartee. (The script is better than Night School's too.) The Chloe how-to-be-feline masterclass is wonderfully astute comedy, Lake Bell's performance as the overweight, complacent cat a high-point of these films. And self-doubting Max (Patton Oswald) has the good fortune to play opposite Harrison Ford's throaty growl as grizzled working-dog Rooster. It makes for some truly lovely interactions.
Pets 2 is
at its best when capturing the minutiae of animal behaviour, something it does quite
brilliantly throughout (even if cat-owners may take umbrage at how
felines are portrayed). It also lovingly recreates its New York
locations, the animation's sheer attention to detail smacking your
retinas during the quieter moments. This movie mightn't have Pixar-level
imagination or even scale the heights of Gru and the Minions, but it's
made by some of the best creatives in the business nonetheless and will win you over
through its irrepressible sense of fun. Max and his fuzzy companions
are back with more bark and more miaow than last time. This Pet Story
has found its own voice.
Gut Reaction: Subverted expectations. Lots of chuckles along the way, a bit of tension at one point and I was actively loving that animation.
Memorable Moment(s): Chloe's 'How To Be a Cat' tutorial is ace. So is Max's turkey encounter.
Ed's Verdict: 7/10. Quality kids' entertainment, but anyone who's ever shared living-space with a four-legged friend will find lots to enjoy here.
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