Review of The Secret Life of Pets (2016) by Robert R — 15 Jan 2019

One of the first animated films I've seen in a while that actually has the audience's attitudes shift wildly in relation to the main characters. And that's not necessarily a good thing. Pick a character.

Any character. Did I like them consistently throughout the film? No. Did I dislike them consistently throughout the film? No. Did I end up liking them in the end? Most likely, but it's still a flawed system.

There are a lot of prickly, jagged-edged ideas in play here -- ideas and concepts that we've honestly seen done much better in other films (see "Toy Story," "Zootopia," etc.) But it's honestly the intention, the overall sweetness of the ending, and the undeniably creative animation that won me over in the end, thus allowing Illumination to -- once again -- JUST skirt by, in my eyes.