The IlluMINatION Station presents: Dog Story

Rating: 5/10 (10 July 2016)

Welcome to the Illumination station, home of the Minions and this new animated feature... But mainly the Minions as is made perfectly clear. Secret Life of Pets is the animated film that animal lovers everywhere have been waiting for. The film is one for the kids and has some small references for adults making it, in my book, an fairly average family film.
Deriving its story from Pixars Toy Story, Secret Life of Pets tells the story of Max (Woody) who lives in harmony with his owner Katie (Andy) until one day, Katie brings home another dog, Duke (Buzz) who rivals Max. The two have a falling out get lost and must make their way home... Literally the story of Toy Story. The big issue I have with this film is that it is rather unoriginal and easy to come up with in terms of story and jokes. The humour of the film relies heavily on two things; 1) basic slapstick and destruction and 2) funny things animals do that owners can relate to. If you are an animal person then you will love this film, but if you are like me and have no pets then you may like or hate it.
This film has many characters. Although there are many characters, it is hard to find any interesting ones. Max and Duke are plain and boring as there really isn't much too them. In Toy Story Woody had control issues and Buzz lived in a fantasy world which made their characters rather interesting whereas in this Max and Duke are just normal dogs. The best character in the film is by far Pops the paralysed dog voiced by Garth from Waynes World. Pops has the best lines and his cynicism made for some universally funny jokes and a character you would remember.
Illumination made the Minions movie and this film suffers from the same plot issues as the Minions movie. The films series of events is hectic and all over the place. Although not as bad as the Minions Movie, Secret Life of Pets does suffer from a lack of focus. This lack of focus is what makes this film engaging for children but too hyperactive for adults.
Overall Secret Life of Pets is for animal lovers. If you have a pet or pets or simply love anything about animals or Minions then you will enjoy this film. But from my point of view the film is hectic, over populated with simple characters and unimaginative. Animal lovers rejoice!