The Secret Life of Pets
The Secret Life of Pets
In a Manhattan apartment building, Max's life as a favorite pet is turned upside-down, when his owner brings home sloppy mongrel Duke. They must put their quarrels aside when they learn that adorable white bunny Snowball is building an army of lost pets determined to wreak revenge.
Tubeman72 reviewedMay 2, 2025
Have you ever wondered what your dog, cat, rabbit or parakeet gets up to while you're at work?
Do they turn the house upside down or patiently wait by the door for your return? That’s the central idea behind The Secret Life of Pets (2016), from the makers of Despicable Me (2010) and Minions (2015). Early trailers suggested the film would focus on the bond between owners and their pets (sometimes they even start to resemble each other!), with emotions taking center stage. In reality, however, this is mainly a fun adventure film — colorful and packed with humor — though ultimately less memorable than, say, the Toy Story trilogy (with which it shares several similarities). This is largely because Illumination Entertainment hasn’t yet mastered the art of truly tugging at the audience’s heartstrings — something Pixar has perfected. That said, Illumination’s animated films are almost always funny, and The Secret Life of Pets definitely delivers on laughs.
Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) is a Jack Russell living the good life. He shares a lovely Manhattan apartment with his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper). His food bowl is always full, he frequently goes on walks, and he has a cozy, soft bed to sleep in. But his relaxed life is suddenly disrupted when Katie brings home another dog. This new dog, Duke (Eric Stonestreet), is a huge, shaggy mutt she adopted from the shelter. While Katie hopes the two will become friends, it’s animosity from day one. Still, they have more in common than they realize — most importantly, they’re both terrified of being abandoned by their owner. One day, after a scuffle between them and a distracted dog walker, they end up lost in the city. Now they must rely on each other to find their way back home, but to do so, they’ll have to pass through the sewers of New York, where a gang of discarded pets known as the “Flushed Pets” resides. This exotic crew (including ugly dogs, skinny cats, a tattooed pig, and multiple reptiles) is led by a fluffy white rabbit named Snowball (Kevin Hart). Despite his cute appearance, Snowball is a full-blown gangster who loathes domesticated animals.
As Max and Duke try to escape their predicament, the feisty Pomeranian Gidget (Jenny Slate), secretly in love with Max and the only one who notices something’s off, gathers an eclectic group of pets to track him down. There’s the cynical cat Chloe (Lake Bell), the hyperactive pug Mel (Bobby Moynihan), the laid-back dachshund Buddy (Hannibal Buress), the grumpy (and hungry) hawk Tiberius (Albert Brooks), and the elderly, disabled basset hound Pops (Dana Carvey) — all joining forces for the mission.
The Secret Life of Pets plays with expectations. You don't see it coming that a cute little bunny is the villain or that a fluffy white lapdog is the bravest of them all and surprisingly skilled at kung fu. These surprises mostly come from the supporting characters; the journey of Max and Duke follows a more predictable path. We’ve seen this before — for example, in Toy Story (1995), where a seasoned favorite has to share the spotlight with a newcomer and isn't willing to give up their privileged status without a fight. But whereas Woody and Buzz Lightyear took audiences on an emotionally rich journey, the relationship between Max and Duke remains more superficial. There’s an attempt at a “backstory,” but it doesn’t quite provoke genuine emotion. Illumination would do well to focus on what it does best: humor. And in that department, they excel — from subtle jokes and nods to previous work (especially Minions) to outlandish scenes that guarantee belly laughs. Though dogs clearly dominate the screen time, it’s actually the lone cat, Chloe, who shines in the funniest scenes — whether she’s resisting the temptation of food in the fridge or going viral after a slapstick accident at a party. Whatever the film lacks in emotional depth, it more than makes up for in humor.
The Secret Life of Pets is an entertaining family film with a strong voice cast and plenty of laughs. It may not go as deep as most Pixar movies and might be a bit predictable, but that doesn’t take away from its entertainment value. The colorful characters are perfect for sequels and spin-offs. And if you plan on seeing The Secret Life of Pets in theaters, make sure to arrive on time — otherwise, you’ll miss the hilarious short Mower Minions (2016).