Bunny Snowball (Hart), a fluffy-wuffy bundle of class outrage, is the leader of a gang hellbent on overthrowing the pet-owner hegemony, but disappointingly, he isn’t the hero of this movie. Instead, the loyal if unadventurous terrier Max (Louis C.K.) is the main attraction. Max is happy with domesticated life, but when his owner brings home a rescue mutt named Duke (Stonestreet) a wedge is driven into their tight twosome. Then Duke gets them both picked up by animal services. An animated Homeward Bound hopscotching through New York’s boroughs, The Secret Life of Pets paints the city with an ecstatic brush, but there’s not a lot of time to savor the splendid visuals. The domesticated pets, a pampered, largely indistinguishable lot, can’t hold a candle to Snowball. Crafted by much of the same creative team behind the Despicable Me franchise, The Secret Life has wit, for sure, but it could use more balls.
Opened 07/08/16