The 2016 film The Secret Life of Pets charmed audiences with its playful take on what our furry, feathered, and scaled companions get up to when we’re not around. It was a delightful surprise, a vibrant and humorous adventure through the hidden world of domestic animals in New York City. Given its success, a sequel was perhaps inevitable, but Pets 2, officially titled The Secret Life of Pets 2, raises the question: does it capture the original’s magic, or is it a case of diminishing returns for pet movie enthusiasts?
Sequels in Hollywood are a common phenomenon, often driven by the desire to capitalize on established franchises. While familiarity can be comforting, it also sets a high bar. Pets 2 brings back the voice talents we know and love: Patton Oswalt stepping into the role of Max, the perpetually worried terrier (taking over from Louis CK); Eric Stonestreet as Duke, the lovable, lumbering Newfoundland; Lake Bell as Chloe, the epitome of feline dry wit; and Jenny Slate voicing Gidget, the fluffy and determined Pomeranian. This time around, the narrative branches into three separate storylines, potentially diluting the focused charm of the original.
Firstly, Max and Duke find themselves on a farm, encountering Rooster, a no-nonsense Welsh Sheepdog voiced with gravelly authority by Harrison Ford. Simultaneously, Gidget embarks on a mission to infiltrate a house overrun with cats to recover a beloved toy of Max’s, requiring her to hilariously adopt feline mannerisms. Lastly, Snowball, the formerly villainous rabbit (Kevin Hart), now embraces a superhero persona and teams up with Daisy (Tiffany Haddish), a Shih Tzu, to liberate a tiger cub from an exploitative circus owner (Nick Kroll).
While these adventures unfold, Pets 2 unfortunately loses some of the heart and cohesion that made the first film so appealing. The separation of the core group diminishes the dynamic camaraderie that was central to the original. While there are moments of genuine humor and my own kids found aspects enjoyable, the overall impression is that it lacks staying power and the same level of rewatchability that its predecessor possessed. Gidget and Chloe’s escapades in the cat-filled house provide some fun sequences, but the Snowball and Daisy plotline feels somewhat disconnected and less memorable. However, the most significant issues arise within Max’s storyline, which is arguably the film’s central thread.
The pacing of Max’s narrative arc is noticeably slow, and unfortunately, it’s burdened by some questionable writing choices. Max’s defining trait is his anxiety, now amplified by the arrival of his owners’ baby, for whom he feels intensely protective. The film introduces a pet psychiatrist, a concept that, while fantastical, could be used to explore pet anxieties in a relatable way. However, the portrayal of the other patients as caricatures, particularly a pair of fire-starting cats, leans into humor that feels unsettling rather than genuinely funny, especially in a film aimed at children.
Adding to this is the introduction of a cone for Max, meant to curb his nervous scratching. Rooster, the farm dog, mocks this, embodying a hyper-masculine attitude that dismisses Max’s anxiety as weakness. Rooster’s philosophy, that Max simply needs to be “tougher,” feels tonally misplaced. It presents a simplistic and potentially harmful message about dealing with anxiety, suggesting that overcoming mental wellbeing is merely a matter of willpower, without acknowledging the complexities of fear and anxiety in pets, or humans. While children’s films often depict characters overcoming fears, these are usually external challenges, not internal struggles mocked by others.
Even setting aside the questionable handling of pet anxiety, Pets 2 simply doesn’t reach the bar set by the original. While the same creative team is at the helm, there’s a sense of relying on familiar tropes rather than fresh ideas and employing convenient metaphors to drive the plot. The film lacks consistent excitement, and audience reactions in the cinema, even amongst children, suggested a lack of deep engagement. This points towards Pets 2 being better suited for a home viewing experience rather than a theatrical one. At 86 minutes, it’s thankfully short, but paradoxically, Pets 2 can feel longer due to pacing issues and stretches of less engaging content. While it delivers some laughs, it unfortunately often embodies what a children’s film ideally should strive to avoid.
