The 2016 film The Secret Life of Pets charmed audiences with its quirky premise and lovable characters, quickly becoming a favorite among pet owners and families alike. Its exploration of what our furry, feathered, and scaled companions do when we’re not around struck a chord, delivering a blend of humor and heart that resonated with viewers. Given its success, a sequel seemed inevitable, but The Secret Life of Pets 2 arrives as a prime example of why some stories are best left as standalone adventures. While it brings back the familiar cast of characters, voiced by talented actors, this sequel struggles to recapture the magic of the original, often feeling disjointed and lacking the emotional depth that made its predecessor so appealing.
Returning are the voices of Patton Oswalt as the anxious Jack Russell Terrier Max, replacing Louis C.K. in the role; Eric Stonestreet as the lovable, lumbering Newfoundland, Duke; Lake Bell as the sardonic and scene-stealing feline, Chloe; and Jenny Slate as the bubbly Pomeranian, Gidget. This time, however, the narrative splits into three separate storylines, diluting the camaraderie that was a highlight of the first film. Max and Duke find themselves on a farm, encountering a no-nonsense Welsh Sheepdog named Rooster, voiced with perfect gruffness by Harrison Ford. Meanwhile, Gidget embarks on a mission to a cat-filled apartment to recover a toy for Max, and Snowball the rabbit, 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 an abusive circus owner.
While these individual storylines offer moments of amusement, they collectively contribute to a film that feels scattered and less engaging than the original. The humor, while present, doesn’t land as consistently, and the emotional core feels significantly weaker. Although younger viewers may still find enjoyment in the colorful animation and familiar characters, The Secret Life of Pets 2 is unlikely to leave a lasting impression or inspire repeat viewings in the same way its predecessor did. The Gidget and Chloe subplot provides some lighthearted fun, but the Snowball and Daisy storyline feels largely forgettable. However, the most significant issues lie within Max’s storyline, which is unfortunately the film’s central focus.
Max’s farm adventure suffers from a notably slow pace and some questionable writing choices. In both films, Max is portrayed as an anxious dog, and this trait is amplified in the sequel as he grapples with hyper-protectiveness towards his owners’ new baby. The film introduces the concept of a pet psychiatrist, and while the idea itself might be seen as whimsical, the portrayal of the other animal patients leans into caricature, particularly with a pair of cats who ominously declare “we start fires“. This attempt at humor feels misplaced and somewhat unsettling, undermining the potential for a more nuanced exploration of pet anxiety.
Adding to the awkwardness is Rooster’s dismissive attitude towards Max’s anxiety and his use of a cone to manage his scratching habit. Rooster embodies a hyper-masculine persona, advocating for Max to simply be “tougher” rather than addressing his underlying fears. This simplistic and somewhat insensitive approach to mental wellbeing feels particularly out of sync with contemporary discussions about anxiety and mental health, even within the context of a children’s film. While children’s movies often feature characters overcoming fears, The Secret Life of Pets 2 presents Max’s anxiety in a way that feels mocked and trivialized, rather than understood and addressed with genuine empathy.
Ultimately, The Secret Life of Pets 2 fails to capture the charm and cohesiveness of the original. Despite retaining the same writing and directing team, the sequel feels like a less inspired effort, relying on tired tropes and predictable plot devices. The film lacks the spark of originality and emotional resonance that made the first movie so enjoyable. During a public screening, the audience, filled with children, remained unusually quiet and restless, suggesting that the film struggles to hold their attention. This audience reaction, perhaps more than any critical review, indicates that The Secret Life of Pets 2 is better suited for a rental or streaming experience rather than a trip to the cinema. While the film is thankfully brief at 86 minutes, it often feels much longer due to its uneven pacing and lack of compelling content. Despite a few scattered laughs, The Secret Life of Pets 2 too often embodies the very things a children’s film should strive to avoid: boredom and a lack of genuine heart.
