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 moreįunny 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.

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