The 2016 film, The Secret Life of Pets, was undeniably a surprise hit. It charmed audiences with its whimsical portrayal of what our furry, feathered, and scaled companions get up to when we leave for the day. The adventures of Max and his buddies in the bustling cityscape of New York resonated with pet owners and children alike. It was a fun, quirky ride that concluded its story quite nicely.
However, in the world of Hollywood, success often begets sequels, warranted or not. The Secret Life of Pets 2 arrives, bringing back the familiar voices of Patton Oswalt as the anxious terrier Max (taking over from Louis CK), Eric Stonestreet as the lovable lug Duke, Lake Bell as the perpetually unimpressed Chloe the cat, and Jenny Slate as the fluffy and determined Pomeranian, Gidget. This time, the narrative splinters into three separate storylines. Max and Duke find themselves on a farm encountering Rooster, a no-nonsense Welsh Sheepdog voiced by Harrison Ford. Simultaneously, Gidget embarks on a mission to a cat-filled apartment to recover Max’s beloved toy, requiring her to adopt feline mannerisms. Meanwhile, Snowball the bunny, voiced by Kevin Hart, embraces a superhero persona and teams up with Daisy, a Shih Tzu voiced by Tiffany Haddish, to rescue a tiger cub from a circus.
While The Secret Life of Pets 2 revisits these beloved characters, it unfortunately misses much of the heart and cohesive charm of the original. The separation of the core group into distinct narratives diminishes the delightful camaraderie that made the first film so appealing. While there are moments of humor, it often feels less sharp and genuinely funny compared to its predecessor. Children might find some enjoyment, but it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression or inspire repeated viewings in the same way the original did. The Gidget and Chloe subplot offers some lighthearted amusement, but the Snowball and Daisy storyline feels somewhat disconnected and less memorable. However, the most significant issues arise from Max’s central arc.
Max’s storyline, which should be the emotional anchor of the film, suffers from remarkably slow pacing. His character, already established as anxious, now grapples with heightened protectiveness towards his owners’ new baby. This leads to scenes involving a pet psychiatrist – a concept that, while potentially humorous, veers into questionable territory. While pet behavioral issues are real and complex, the film portrays the other clinic patients as caricatures, bordering on unsettling. The depiction of cats ominously intoning “we start fires” is intended to be funny, but it lands as strangely unsettling and tonally inconsistent with a children’s film.
Adding to the problematic elements is the introduction of the character Rooster. Rooster embodies a hyper-masculine archetype, constantly belittling Max’s anxiety and the cone he wears to manage his scratching habit. Rooster’s philosophy centers on Max simply needing to be “tougher,” dismissing the underlying causes of his anxiety. While it’s a cartoon, this messaging feels particularly out of sync with contemporary understanding of mental wellbeing. Teaching children that overcoming anxiety is merely a matter of being “tougher” is not only simplistic but potentially harmful, ignoring the importance of addressing root causes and seeking support. While children’s films often involve characters confronting fears, they rarely mock or dismiss those feelings in the way The Secret Life of Pets 2 does.
Beyond the questionable messaging, The Secret Life of Pets 2 simply lacks the spark of originality. Despite having the same writing and directing team as the first film, this sequel feels formulaic, relying heavily on tired tropes and lazy metaphors. The pacing issues contribute to a sense of boredom, evident in the surprisingly quiet and restless audience during the screening. This subdued reaction from its target demographic speaks volumes, suggesting that The Secret Life of Pets 2 is better suited for streaming at home rather than a trip to the cinema. While its runtime is a brief 86 minutes, the film often feels much longer due to its lack of engagement and meandering plotlines. Despite a few scattered laughs, The Secret Life of Pets 2 unfortunately embodies many of the pitfalls a children’s film should strive to avoid, offering a less than stellar experience for pet lovers and families alike.
