THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (2016) Review
Directed by Chris Renuad & Yarrow Cheney
Who doesn’t love animated films featuring animals? And not just animals, the ones we actually have and take care of. Illumination’s popularity began to grow with 2010’s charming family movie “Despicable Me,” which featured the now infamous Minions which got their own movie after Despicable Me 2. And now on their 6th feature film, Illumination Entertainment is pulling out all the stops to get their name back in the track.
The Secret Life of Pets is an above average family adventure film that’s crazy enough to get your fun on at the cinemas. It delivers what it wants and needs to for the young and young at heart: entertainment. But you may find it a bit absurd, as in over-the-top sometimes because of its ridiculous, non-realistic story but all of it is intended to be that way because it wants to be funny and adventurous and something out of the box, not entirely, but enough to actually make the whole film a crazy ride.
Louis C.K. as the voice of Max, the lead character of the film fits perfectly but the one who will get your attention as its voice is Kevin Hart’s. While we may all know that he’s one of those who can easily get someone to laugh but voicing a rabbit that is both adorable and out for revenge against humanity. But of course this is a family movie, once it gets pretty dark, Snowball says something funny and look adorable.
The film has a lot to offer, from cute animals talking and wandering off for an adventure of a lifetime, how friendship is built out of differences and just having fun. It might not be a Disney Animation or even Pixar, but Illumination Entertainment films are first and foremost aims to entertain, and they definitely did that with The Secret Life of Pets.
3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS
“The Secret Life of Pets” opens August 24 in Philippine cinemas, also available in 3D. The film is from United International Pictures, locally distributed by Columbia Pictures. Rated G.