Much in the same way that Toy Story taught us what our toys get up to when we have our backs turned, The Secret Life Of Pets plans to showcase what our housebound critters partake in as soon as we leave the house. It turns out that the cats, dogs, birds, and any other beast that you have locked away in your abode make the home their own as soon as the door closes. You can see exactly what they get up to thanks to the first trailer for The Secret Life Of Pets.
I’ll tell you what, there were an awful lot of adorable pets to behold in that two-and-a-half-minute spell. Even though, admittedly, it looks overly cartoony and childish, there was enough cuteness and humor in the teaser trailer to suggest that The Secret Life Of Pets could be worthwhile.
I mean the sight gag of the cat repeatedly opening up the fridge and giving off different reactions as he contemplated eating the chicken certainly worked. In fact, it was topped by the shot of the cake on the bottom shelf after she’d eaten it. Plus, the dog getting a massage from an electric whisk, while incredibly unhygienic, was a joy to see, as was the revelation that the poodle preferred rocking out to some heavy metal instead of listening to classical music.
All of these cutesy quips suggest that The Secret Life Of Pets will be a bright, fun, and energetic addition to the animation genre. If you agree, your excitement for the project will only increase tenfold once you learn of the film’s esteemed cast. Taking the leading vocal role in the film is non-other than comedy sensation, television innovator, and all-round adorable misanthrope Louis CK. I’m guessing that certainly piqued the interest of some of you naysayers out there.
Louis CK voices Max, a terrier who adores his easy life in a Manhattan apartment, where he is the favorite pet of his owner. However, Max’s life is flipped upside down when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke (Eric Stonestreet). But they have to put their differences aside when they learn that Kevin Hart’s Snowball, an adorable white bunny, plans to take revenge on pets that have happy lives, and he’s amassed an army of abandoned animals to help him. Yeah, I know, it’s ripping off Toy Story in pretty much every way imaginable, but at least they’re stealing from the best.
Joining Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, and Kevin Hart, which is already a sensational trifecta, The Secret Life Of Pets is a cavalcade of impressive comedic talent. There’s acclaimed stand-up and Broad City star Hannibal Burress, Saturday Night Live’s Bobby Moynihan, In A World’s Lake Bell, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Ellie Keeper, Obvious Child’s Jenny Slate, Wayne’s World’s Dana Carvey, and the comedy hero that is Albert Brooks (Finding Nemo). It remains to be seen if this esteemed cast will be given the platform to showcase their undeniable comedic gifts, but if they are, I’ll be first in line when The Secret Life Of Pets is released on July 8, 2016.
