The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
#1
DVD Talk Hero
Thread Starter
The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
Universal seems to be on a roll, as there's no way a movie about pets by the DM people doesn't pull bank.
Synopsis:
Voice cast includes: Louis C.K. Albert Brooks, Hannibal Buress, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Eric Stonestreet, Bobby Moynihan, and Kevin Hart
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i-80SGWfEjM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

...though shouldn't the title be The Secret Lives of Pets?
Synopsis:
Spoiler:
Voice cast includes: Louis C.K. Albert Brooks, Hannibal Buress, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Eric Stonestreet, Bobby Moynihan, and Kevin Hart
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i-80SGWfEjM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

...though shouldn't the title be The Secret Lives of Pets?
Last edited by RichC2; 06-24-15 at 10:33 AM.
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
It sounds a lot like Toy Story, particularly the third one from that synopsis - except, you know, with pets.
BTW, I didn't see Melissa McCarthy in the voice cast. Someone other than her is voicing the cat that eats the turkey?
BTW, I didn't see Melissa McCarthy in the voice cast. Someone other than her is voicing the cat that eats the turkey?
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
Looks cute. I wonder if there's a narrative of the animals getting out of their apartments and achieving a goal.
#5
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
With the exception of the dog rocking out to heavy metal, that trailer did nothing for me. Of course I also didn't care for Despicable Me at all so this is a rental at best, and even then only if it receives good reviews.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
I was fortunate enough to catch an advance screening of this last night with my kids. It was great. Kevin Hart, who normally annoys the shit out of me, was awesome; as was Louis CK. The movie was just fun -- no hidden (or blatant) message or theme (cough** Zootopia ** cough). While I didn't see it in 3D, it appeared that the 3D could have been excellent where nothing was forced in for 3D sake... just very natural.
Overall 4/5.
Overall 4/5.
#8
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
#9
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
I'm looking forward to this, but still need to see Dory which i'll probably catch this weekend.
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
"catch"! pretty funny when talking about a fish movie.
dory was good but man, there were a ton of previews before it, like half an hour. some of the movies in the previews looked terrible, like the new Ice Age.
dory was good but man, there were a ton of previews before it, like half an hour. some of the movies in the previews looked terrible, like the new Ice Age.
#11
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
Saw it today and loved it. Best animated movie I've seen in years. Full of laughs and the 3D was actually really well done.
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
Loved this. Between this and Zootopia it's been a good year for animation. The voice cast was great all around. Definitely will be picking up the Blu-ray when it's out.
#13
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Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
The movie had good gag writing. Tons of individual visual gags get a lot of laughs. Real Warner Brothers style slapstick and absurdity. But the movie's script completely fails when it comes to plot, character development, and dialogue.
The story is super basic with almost no complications or reversals. Everybody runs around and gets lost, but since we are certain they will be found by the end the whole thing is utterly boring.
The characters are given the thinnest motivations. One character decides she loves another dog so much that she will risk her life to save him because she saw something on a telenovella. The only thing lazier than that would be to give her no motivation, and that probably would have been more believable, because what we are given is just stupid.
The cast is made up mostly of stand up comedians yet no one says anything very funny. Louis CK is the hottest comic in the world yet his character doesn't deliver any actually funny material. He does funny things, but he doesn't say funny things. Not sure why they cast him or why he wanted to do it considering he barely lifts a comic finger.
Best part of the film was my 8 year old's reaction. She loved it. But I was bored by this predictable, lazy film.
The story is super basic with almost no complications or reversals. Everybody runs around and gets lost, but since we are certain they will be found by the end the whole thing is utterly boring.
The characters are given the thinnest motivations. One character decides she loves another dog so much that she will risk her life to save him because she saw something on a telenovella. The only thing lazier than that would be to give her no motivation, and that probably would have been more believable, because what we are given is just stupid.
The cast is made up mostly of stand up comedians yet no one says anything very funny. Louis CK is the hottest comic in the world yet his character doesn't deliver any actually funny material. He does funny things, but he doesn't say funny things. Not sure why they cast him or why he wanted to do it considering he barely lifts a comic finger.
Best part of the film was my 8 year old's reaction. She loved it. But I was bored by this predictable, lazy film.
Last edited by Mabuse; 07-11-16 at 07:53 PM.
#14
DVD Talk God
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
Caught a matinee today.
I enjoyed it. Usually I don't go to the theatre to see animated movies, but the trailers made it look pretty amusing and I'm a fan of the Minions/Despicable Me films, so I gave it a shot.
It wasn't as laugh out loud funny as I was hoping, but it had some laughs and overall it was cute and sweet. I enjoyed the relationship between Max and Duke as it developed from bitter rivals to them eventually becoming friends.
Nothing to really over-analyze. It's a relatively simple story and IMO it's a good way to spend a hot and lazy afternoon with or without the family.
The Minions short film prior to the movie was pretty funny.
I enjoyed it. Usually I don't go to the theatre to see animated movies, but the trailers made it look pretty amusing and I'm a fan of the Minions/Despicable Me films, so I gave it a shot.
It wasn't as laugh out loud funny as I was hoping, but it had some laughs and overall it was cute and sweet. I enjoyed the relationship between Max and Duke as it developed from bitter rivals to them eventually becoming friends.
Nothing to really over-analyze. It's a relatively simple story and IMO it's a good way to spend a hot and lazy afternoon with or without the family.
The Minions short film prior to the movie was pretty funny.
#15
DVD Talk Legend
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
Yeah it wasn't the best animated film I've seen or anything but it was entertaining for what it was and kind of cute. I thought it provided some good laughs and plus I'm a sucker for animals (especially dogs) so it appealed to me for that reason too.
#16
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: The Secret Life of Pets (July 2016, by the Despicable Me crew)
Super cute and entertaining, especially as a pet owner. Nothing particularly deep nor does it reach any emotional highs like a Pixar movie, but I just watching the animal hi-jinks was great. Gidget in particular was fantastic. I didn't realize it was Jenny Slate, although I knew she sounded exactly the assistant mayor from Zootopia. Kind of funny to see her voice to animated animals so close together.