The Secret Life Of Pets 2 Review: Strong Additions To The Pack Make For Another Animated Winner
Illumination knows how to do it, and theyve done it again with my favorite animated franchise. In fact, I would say The Secret Life of Pets 2 even tops the first one in laughs, heart and gorgeous animation. I am at a loss as to why this outfit doesnt get the same critical love as a Pixar or DreamWorks Animation as it is every bit on that level.
The Pets concept was a winner from the first moment I heard it. Who among us who has ever had, or loved, a pet has not wondered what the hell they do all day when no one is at home? The 2016 first edition explored that idea, and it is taken to extremes this time as the regulars from that film, plus a few choice additions, make this a must for kids obviously but also entire families as there is something for everyone here.
Max (voiced beautifully by Patton Oswalt, replacing Louis CK from the original), the lovable pooch owned by Katie (Ellie Kemper), is back, now living with the big lug of a canine Duke (Eric Stonestreet). But Katie has found love and gotten married and had a baby, Liam, which adds to the stress of Max, who finds himself with nervous tics such as scratching himself constantly. Katie takes him to a therapist whose solution is to put a plastic cone around Maxs neck. The stress levels increase as the whole family, including the dogs, takes off for a vacation at a farm. Of course the addition of all sorts of new creatures — including a psychotic turkey — add to Maxs anxieties, topped by his encounters with a herd dog named Rooster (Harrison Ford, stealing every scene in his first job ever in an animated feature) who has a lot of practical tips for the newcomer.
Meanwhile, there are two other storylines going on. Gidget, the fluffy pomeranian with a crush on Max, agrees to watch over his favorite toy Busy Bee while he is away and promptly blows the assignment by watching the toy sail out the window, down the fire escape and into the apartment of the resident cat lady who lives with dozens of scary looking felines anxious to make Busy Bee their own. Freaking out, she enlists the help of friends including the pug Mel (Bobby Moynihan), the dachshund Buddy (Hannibal Burress) and cat extraordinaire Chloe (Lake Bell) to teach her how to be a believable puss in one of the movies funniest bits as Gidget decides to go undercover and retrieve Maxs heirloom.
At the same time, Kevin Harts loony bunny Snowball is back, this time with visions of glory as a superhero, Captain Snowball (just gotta work the superhero label into a summer movie, folks). He joins up with new character, a Shih Tsu named Daisy (unmistakably Tiffany Haddish), as they attempt to rescue an abRead More – Source
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