Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Secret Life of Pets 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 30, 2016

In 2016, it's not at all hard to determine what really does happen behind closed doors when the humans are gone and the pets are left to fend for themselves. A camera or two can stream a live image to a device, giving humans an eye into the true "secret life of pets" which, of course, isn't anything remotely close to what the movie depicts. But watching some animals lay around the house, maybe get up for a bite of food or a splash of water wouldn't make for an interesting movie. Instead, Illumination Entertainment's new film takes viewers on a rollicking adventure of big-city peril and explores the bond between man and animal in The Secret Life of Pets, a movie that's animated in more ways than one but takes audiences on a fun ride through the creative team's interpretation of what life in the big city must be like for pets left alone when their masters go out to provide for their needs. Hint: it's not a restful, lazy day on the couch.

Max (voiced by Louis C.K.) is a dog that loves his life. He was plucked from nothing and dropped into his master Katie's (voiced by Ellie Kemper) arms. It's been the perfect relationship, full of love and happiness. The only sore spot comes when Katie leaves Max alone for long stretches of the day. He doesn't know why she leaves him behind, but if nothing else it gives him the opportunity to chat with some of the other pets that live nearby. One day, Katie returns home but Max's exuberance quickly turns to disgust. She's brought home another dog that goes by the name of "Duke" (voiced by Eric Stonestreet). He's much larger than Max, but that doesn't stop Max from laying claim to the house and doing his best to rule over his new unwanted companion. One day, Duke tries to ditch Max while the two are out for a stroll. Things spiral downhill and they're caught by animal control but are rescued by a malicious rabbit named Snowball (voiced by Kevin Hart) who, along with his his followers, is seeking revenge on the humans who mistreated them. Max and Duke distance themselves from Snowball and find themselves on the run, desperate to get back home and live the good life, together.

The movie is...alright. Vibes of Toy Story course through it, and the inescapable comparison means the movie seems always destined to live in a better picture's shadow. Still, it stands on its own four legs well enough, finding both the everyday humor in "the secret life of pets" as well as plenty from all of the antics that follow in their adventure. Yet at its core this is very standard stuff, creative no further than some of the story specifics. The characters lack much in the way of distinct personalities, some playing on real animal stereotypes and others more or less copied and pasted from similar "talking animal" animated movies. The sheer volume of characters means a little bit of unoriginality is bound to seep through, but even the primaries -- excluding the evil bunny Snowball -- seem only like garden-variety characters within the broader animation landscape. Snowball's evil ways -- his anti-human crusade and quest to kill Max and Duke -- put the movie in a darker place than most of its contemporaries. The film does a fair job of offsetting that with plenty of cuddly characters and more hit than miss humor, but it's definitely a film that's probably only a single level above most other kid-friendly talking animal fare like Rio or Madagascar.

Though its antics are a little unimaginative, its story a touch too dark, and its characters by-and-large generic, The Secret Life of Pets does get by with some high energy humor, great animation, and fantastic voice work. The film's jokes run the gamut of animal stereotype and cliché but also explore some externalities in the way humans deal with pets and life in the city. Not all of them hit, but the LPM (Laugh-Per-Minute) ratio is high enough to keep a smile on the face beyond those few moments of plot darkness, which even manage to lighten the mood when, for example, the red eyes on security snakes turn green upon receiving the proper password. The digital workmanship on the movie is terrific, boasting wonderfully imaginative character construction that's largely authentic to core animal qualities but exaggerated for effect just enough to give them a visual personality as well as accentuate core character traits. Voice work is fantastic; every main cast member falls into role with a perfectly pitched cadence that fits the animal's personalities, the situation, and the movie's larger tone very well. Technically, they don't get much better than this.

The Secret Life of Pets 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Secret Life of Pets' 3D presentation is really quite enjoyable and, of the three options available -- 3D, 1080p 2D Blu-ray (included with 3D purchase), and 2160p UHD -- this is probably the most enjoyable of the bunch. For starters, the basic attributes hold up very well. Colors maintain the vibrance of the 2D image, with any drop-off marginal at worst and indistinguishable at best. Details are super-crisp and pleasing, too, with all of the fine digital textures like urban building façades and animal fur amazing. The 3D elements are great. Objects are nice and shapely. A bird cage is a good example, looking appropriately rotund, accentuated by its thin bars that allow a sense of shape but also see-through construction that really accentuates its shape and volume. When the bird escapes and flies in place in front of the TV, the sense of space between it and the camera and between it and the in-movie TV screen is very obvious.

Many shots take place near ground level; with most of the main characters pets, camera shots are often situated much lower, which allows the sense of depth both lengthwise along the floor as well as further up along walls towards ceilings to appear more pronounced. For raw depth and sense of room shape, few 3D images can top this one. One of the best examples of the transfer's wares can be found in the first minute or so of chapter four. The chapter begins with a street-level view of the pets' apartment building in the distance. It's a beautifully vast shot in 3D with all sorts of elements in-frame to help gauge distance. A subsequent shot shows Max's snout appearing to push a little out of the screen (animal snouts are the best at this in the movie), and it follows with him walking along the building's fire escape where the metal stairs, the brick façade, window sills, distant buildings, and other little odds and ends make for a playground of various shapes and sizes that all converge into an impressively deep and diverse segment that practically puts the viewer out there with the dog. It's also a good example of the transfer's one downfall, which are some ragged, jagged straight lines that appear throughout. Overall, however, this is a very satisfying 3D image and the best way to watch the movie.

The Secret Life of Pets 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Secret Life of Pets' Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivers as expected. The track is big and rich, fully detailed and impressively positioned around the stage. Bass thumps when necessary, with some tunes particularly powerful and the low end complimenting the effortless expansion along the front and wrap into the backs. Musical flow and definition are seamless, and clarity extends to every note and through each style. Action scenes are excitingly boisterous and balanced, again with expert placement and full-stage engagement. Delivery is crisp, details precise, and immersion seamless, both with broad-stroke effects and finer nuance around the city alike. The overheads engage in a number of moments, often more in complimentary roles but taking elements like booming thunder heard early in the film and layering the top end of the stage to lifelike satisfaction. Dialogue is clear and detailed, always well prioritized over any surrounding din, and perfectly positioned in the front-center portion of the soundstage.

The Secret Life of Pets 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Secret Life of Pets contains a number of short and very straightforward extras. Extras are available on both the 2D and 3D discs; they read as 3D on the 3D disc but only play in 2D. A UV/iTunes digital copy code is included with purchase.

• The Humans That Brought You Pets (1080p, 8:43 total runtime): Quick interviews with Producers Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy, Directors Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud, and Writer Brian Lynch.
• Animals Can Talk: Meet the Actors (1080p, 3:47): Lightning-fast chats with the cast interspersed with fun moments behind the microphone.
• All About the Pets (1080p, 6:26): Animal Trainer Molly O'Neill is joined by Actors Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart for some hands-on time with some animals.
• Hairstylist to the Dogs (1080p, 3:41): Eric Stonestreet joins Stylist Jess Rona for some grooming tips.
• How to Make an Animated film (1080p, 4:13): A quick look at the creative process behind an animated film.
• Anatomy of a Scene (1080p, 4:46): A brief examination of what goes into making an animated movie scene.
• The Best of Snowball (1080p, 1:15): A few moments featuring the movie's evil white bunny.
• Lyric Video (1080p, 2:23): "Lovely Day." The movie's lyrics are set against an animated backdrop.
• Hot Dog Sing-Along (1080p, 1:12): Song and dance in a land full of hot dogs.
• Fandango Brian the Minion on Pets (1080p): The Minions watch the movie MST3K-style. Included are Part 1 (0:57), Part 2 (0:53), and Part 3 (0:56).
• GoPro The Secret Life of Pets (1080p, 2:04): An ad for the camera company intercut with clips from the film.
• Sing Trailer (1080p, 4:02).
• Mini-Movies (1080p): Three mini-movies plus a making-of are included:
• NormanTV (4:01).
• Weenie (4:05).
• Mower Minions (4:27).
• The Making of the Mini-Movies (7:23).

The Secret Life of Pets 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Secret Life of Pets delivers decent enough entertainment but, rather than real creative "secret" stuff it simply takes the easy road out and puts the animals in a basic adventure film. It's very well animated and voiced, but it's a fairly monotonous film otherwise, even if many of the jokes hit. Universal's Blu-ray 3D release delivers highly enjoyable 3D video and terrific audio. Supplements include three mini-movies and a bunch of short, fluffy features. The movie actually plays a bit better in 3D. Recommended.