'Pets' peeve: Engaging kids film glorifies bullying
The moral compass of the people behind the animated "The Secret Life of Pets" needs a serious tuneup.
This cartoonish series of action vignettes glorifies bullying and teaches kids that violence can solve problems quickly and efficiently.
The story's most egregious example involves a Pomeranian heroine named Gidget (Jenny Slate) who pins down a bunny on a New York roof top and demands he reveal the location of her missing dog-friend, Max.
Gidget doubles her fists and pummels the bunny - right, left, right, left, right, left - until he talks.
If a dog other than Gidget had used intimidation and inflicted pain to get what she wanted, she'd be called a bullydog, wouldn't she?
Later, in a faceoff between nasty street critters and good pets, the same pooch settles differences by going full-tilt Bruce Lee on the baddies.
No need for smarts or negotiating skills to right wrongs or save the day here.
Of course, physical conflict has long been a cornerstone of western drama, especially in cartoons because it's easy to depict, and easy for young audiences to comprehend.
But let's consider this year's sensitive, intelligent, well-crafted animated features that don't include bullying heroes.
"Zootopia," showing young females that their dreams of equality and accomplishment can happen.
"The Jungle Book," Rudyard Kipling's classic tale of loyalty and friendship between a boy and his bear buddy.
"Finding Dory," about a fish with learning disabilities surviving a dangerous quest to find her home.
"The Secret Life of Pets," from director Chris Renaud and Illumination Entertainment - the team behind the "Despicable Me" comedies and "Minions" spin offs - falls way below the bar set by these movies.
The "Pets" plot centers around what dogs, cats, fish, birds, guinea pigs and other pets actually do after their human owners leave for work.
They party. They chat. They hang out. It's New York's animal social network in action until the owners come home.
Feisty terrier Max (Louis C.K.) has his perfect existence ruined when his female owner brings home a rescue dog named Duke (Eric Stonestreet), resembling a Muppet version of Chewbacca.
Max quickly figures out that if he trashes the apartment, his owner will think the new dog did it and get rid of him.
Fearing he'll be returned to the pound, Duke becomes Max's slave, frantically scurrying around to do whatever Max commands.
(That Max is mostly white and Duke mostly dark brown might have held some hesitation for sensitive filmmakers tuned into visual subtext.)
Kids will doubtlessly love "The Secret Life of Pets" and not even care that the proper title should be "The Secret Lives of Pets," because the city's domesticated animals don't all share a single life.
The pets are cute and amusing, especially Chloe the cat (Lake Bell), who's overweight and can't stop eating. (Are we still depicting overweight characters as funny gluttons?)
Screenwriters Ken Daurio, Cinco Paul and Brian Lynch populate the story with Mel the pug (Bobby Moynihan), Tiberius the hawk (Albert Brooks), Pops the handicapped basset hound (Dana Carvey), Ozone the alley cat (Steve Coogan) and Snowball the bunny (Kevin Hart) leading a "Flushed Pets" revolution against humans,
These engaging party animals reveal what our pets do when we're not around.
They act just as we do.
That's not necessarily good.
“The Secret Life of Pets”
★ ½
Starring: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Bobby Moynihan, Steve Coogan, Albert Brooks, Hannibal Buress
Directed by: Chris Renaud, co-directed by Yarrow Chaney
Other: A Universal Pictures release. Rated PG. 90 minutes