
Max’s worry over being a good protector to toddler Liam begins to manifest in bad habits and nervous tics like scratching at himself vigorously. However, he feels an even more dramatic shift in his sense of well-being after his owner marries and has her first child. Loyal, lovable terrier Max (voiced by Patton Oswalt) thought his world was coming to an end when his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) brought home big, shaggy mutt Duke (Eric Stonestreet).

This new installment stands as a celebration of pets’ endearing eccentricities, and a blessed respite from the live-action dog-centric weepies of late (“A Dog’s Journey,” “A Dog’s Way Home,” and the upcoming “The Art of Racing in the Rain”). Even though it poaches some themes and narrative structure from yet another Pixar classic (“Finding Nemo”), at least this time around the filmmakers demonstrate an essential understanding of the deeper elements that make that film work. Only now, Renaud and returning screenwriter Brian Lynch deliver a lesson for the parents in the audience.


It gave kids and parents the fundamental tools to work through their difficulties, all with a healthy dose of slapstick.ĭirector Chris Renaud’s followup, “ The Secret Life of Pets 2,” similarly spotlights the trepidation surrounding the arrival of a child. Despite being an overly loud and caustic clone of “Toy Story,” the first feature showed its target market that it’s perfectly okay to be frustrated about a new sibling joining the family. Illumination’s “The Secret Life Of Pets” films do something the “Despicable Me” studio’s other offerings have yet to accomplish: They allow younger audiences to explore their feelings about new life experiences in a silly, lighthearted way through the travails of adorable animated animals.
