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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

‘Secret Life of Pets’: a treat for kids

Dan Webster

During a recent trip out of town, we took time to see at least one movie. Since we were with grandchildren, that movie by necessity something a 5- and 8-year-old would like. So, following is the review of "The Secret Life of Pets" that I wrote for Spokane Public Radio:

The formula for making kids’ films has been in place since the early days of Walt Disney and the adorable mouse he named Mickey.

The most important aspect of the formula involves a particular kind of central character – one who typically is young, often naïve and generally on the cusp of a major life lesson. And as Disney proved, if a human character isn’t appropriate, a cute animal will do just fine.

Like pretty much everything else about life these days, though, many of the established moviemaking trends aimed at kids are changing: The role that girls play – along with a larger sense of diversity, period – is being emphasized in films that used to appeal almost exclusively to white middle-class boys.

Take, for example, the recent animated release “The Secret Life of Pets.” Yes, the central character is male, a dog named Max. But Max is surrounded by a rainbow blend of characters – of different genders, breeds and even species, tropes all representing various aspects both of human behavior and ways of being.

And while Max proves to be brave and resourceful, he clearly couldn’t survive without his friends, especially those corralled by the cute Pomeranian Ginger who has a crush on Max – and whose small stature is no measure of her own courage and ingenuity.

Yet while the concept of “The Secret Life of Pets” is clever – I mean, seriously, who hasn’t wondered what our pets do all day when we’re at work? – the narrative arc of the film treads a plot path that, ultimately, offers nothing especially new.

The story centers on Max, a terrier who lives comfortably in a Manhattan apartment with his loving owner Katie. Max’s comfortable existence ends one day when Katie brings home Duke, an oversize rescue mutt, who immediately takes over.

The rivalry between the two ends up with both dogs being waylaid by a gang of feral cats who steal their collars, leaving them ID-less and in the clutches of Animal Control. Saved by the deranged white rabbit Snowball and his posse of “Flushed Pets,” so called because they’ve been cast off by their owners, the two end up then being targeted by Snowball and crew. Max and Duke manage to escape, end up in Brooklyn, and while they struggle to return home, Ginger and Max’s pals – including a red-tailed hawk named Tiberius – do what they can to locate their lost canine pals.

Again, the conceit of pets having secret lives is funny, with poodles jamming to heavy metal and cats wearing virtual coats made of Cheetos. And the vocal talent – Louis CK as Max, Eric Stonestreet  as Duke, Jenny Slate as Ginger, even Kevin Hart as Snowball – certainly adds to the humor.

But too much of “The Secret Life of Pets” has the feel of been there, done that. Even the obligatory butt jokes feel familiar. Kids may crack up, but adults are more likely to spend their time pondering why the popcorn is so pricey.