The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
★★★ — The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
Chris Renaud had already proven himself one of Illumination's most reliable directors, having co-directed both Despicable Me (2010) and Despicable Me 2 (2013) before turning his attention to this original concept from writers Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. The Secret Life of Pets marked something of a test case for Illumination, a studio founded by Chris Meledandri in 2007 as a leaner alternative to Pixar and DreamWorks Animation, operating on comparatively modest budgets and tight production schedules. Released in the summer of 2016, the film rode a crowded marketplace for family animation but managed to gross well over $875 million worldwide, comfortably becoming one of the year's biggest box office performers and justifying a sequel in 2019.
The Secret Life of Pets (2016) is exactly what it promises: a brightly coloured, energetically paced diversion aimed squarely at children and the parents supervising them. Illumination's animation sparkles with detail (the bustling streets of Manhattan, the expressive fur textures, the chaotic energy of a city seen from paw-height) all rendered with the studio's signature polish. The voice cast delivers reliably: Louis C.K. (in earlier releases), Jenny Slate, Kevin Hart, and a scene-stealing Albert Brooks as a melancholic basset hound all bring warmth and comic timing to their roles. There are genuine laughs here, particularly in the opening montage of pets' secret lives (cats pounding on keyboards, dogs barking at passing squirrels) and the film moves quickly enough to hold younger attention spans. But beneath the glossy surface lies a thin, derivative plot that borrows heavily from Toy Story without capturing its emotional depth. The central conflict unfolds with predictable beats and manufactured peril. The villainous "Flushed Pets" gang feels underdeveloped, their menace undercut by inconsistent tone shifts between slapstick and mild tension. By the second act, the film settles into a familiar rhythm of chase sequences and narrow escapes that, while competently executed, rarely surprise or resonate. A perfectly serviceable family film that succeeds as background entertainment but offers little lasting impression. It's funny in stretches, visually appealing, and harmless enough for a Saturday morning watch. But like a forgotten squeaky toy under the sofa, it's easily overlooked once the credits roll.
Rating: ★★★ | Year: 2016 | Watched: 2026-04-06
Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Sky Go · Now TV Cinema
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
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Physical: Amazon UK
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Where to watch (UK)
Stream: Sky Go · Now TV Cinema
Rent: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Buy: Apple TV Store · Rakuten TV · Amazon Video · Google Play Movies
Physical: Amazon UK
Affiliate disclosure: Movies With Macca may earn a small commission on purchases or subscriptions started via these links. It costs you nothing extra.
Related on Movies With Macca
More from Chris Renaud: Despicable Me (2010) · The Lorax (2012) · Despicable Me 2 (2013) · Despicable Me 4 (2024)
More from the 2010s: Wonder (2017) · Beautiful Boy (2018) · The Witch (2015) · What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
More family: Alice in Wonderland (1951) · Wonder (2017) · Kirikou and the Wild Beasts (2005) · Anastasia (1997)
More comedy: The Eagle (1925) · The General (1926) · Americana (2023) · The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
