THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 MOVIE REVIEW

REVIEW: 2016’s animated flick ‘The Secret Life of Pets’, set in New York, was the cute inside story of what pets were up to back home when their owners headed out to work. We met Max and saw through his adjustment trials of living with his new companion in the house, the very big and fluffy Duke (Eric Stonestreet). In the second instalment, there is a new dynamic thrown into the mix as Max’s owner Katie (Elle Kemper) falls in love, gets married and has a baby – all in quick succession. And now there is baby Liam in the house – whom Max (Patton Oswalt) is at first jealous of and then soon enough, extremely protective of. Bordering on being anxious and fearful all the time of all the unknown dangers that could come the baby’s way.

But when the family takes off for a short holiday to a farm, Max is confronted with the wise Sheep dog called Rooster (Harrison Ford) and he finally gets a few life lessons.

At the same time, there’s a lot happening in two parallel tracks back in the city – Max leaves his favourite toy, Busy Bee under the care of Gidget, the pomerarian (Jenny Slate) who manages to lose it to a house filled with nasty looking felines. And meanwhile, Snowball, the bunny (Kevin Hart) – channelizes his inner superhero and gets inadvertently pulled into a rescue mission of a tiger cub from a cruel circus owner.

While for most of the film, the three tracks run independent of each other they tie up at the end. However, not before the narrative is left feeling oddly confusing at times. But there are enough moments of furry cuteness, laughs and energetic pieces and gags bundled in to make it an entertaining watch, especially for kids. Characters like Chloe the cat (Lake Bell), whose snooty and wry humour is a hoot and the Daisy, the Shih Tzu (Tiffany Haddish), whose fearlessness and ability to think on her feet is admirable – stay with you. As does Harrison Ford’s intense voice as Rooster and the climax, which is designed like an action movie piece.

Overall, ‘The Secret Life of Pets 2’ is an easy breezy watch that fits right into the summer vacation mood. And is perfect for a kid’s movie day out!

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