

Synopsis: Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) is a dog who is happy with his life until his owner brings home a stray named Duke (Eric Stonestreet) and turns his life upside down.Ĭartoon Cats: The film features several cat characters, but the main cat is Chloe (voiced by Lake Bell), an overweight gray tabby who lives above Max. Finally, a third-act train sequence that cribs liberally from “Paddington 2” signals the truth: These pets need to be put on a leash.Starring: Louis C.K., Lake Bell, Steve CooganĬat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film! But in a film bursting with plot and a little short on narrative twists, the storylines don’t always add up. For a franchise that’s literally about the joys of captive (but loved!) animals, a hardline stance against circuses is surprising although not wholly unwelcome. So far, so cute, but there’s the third story: Bonzo bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart), believing he is an actual superhero, joins forces with newbie Shih Tzu Daisy (Tiffany Haddish) to save an abused white tiger cub from a very, very evil circus.

Then, there’s the wacky tale of Max’s love interest (go with it), bubbly Pomeranian Gidget (Jenny Slate), tasked with caring for Max’s cherished toy while he embarks on a trip, only to lose it in a terrifying apartment filled with cats. for obvious reasons) as he deals with crippling anxiety after a major life change. First, there’s the life-lesson-heavy story that centers around ostensible franchise star Max (a Jack Russell Terrier, now voiced by Patton Oswalt, replacing original star Louis C.K.

There are, somehow, three entire plotlines that drive Chris Renaud’s fizzy, frequently silly “ The Secret Life of Pets 2,” a worthy if slightly less delightful sequel to the director’s 2016 animated hit.
