Talking dogs and pigs with tattoos are not necessarily things people see from day to day, and usually come as quite a surprise, even to the imagination. So The Secret Life of Pets incorporates a wide range of creative characters that appeals to the audience’s imagination to propose the question: “Just what do pets do when their owners are not around?”

        As the movie begins, it focuses on the main character, a dog named Max (Louis C.K.) and his life as he grows up. He and his owner, Katie (Ellie Kemper), live happily together and the movie highlights the importance of the bond between a dog and its owner. When Max’s situation changes, and his beloved owner takes in a stray, called Duke (Eric Stonestreet), Max’s world is changed completely and he must learn to adjust. During this transition, both he and Duke face another issue that introduces the main conflict and additional characters. Max and Duke go through a trial of events, and are forced to learn how to become family.

The plot is simple and easy to follow, but has details that turn it into a good story. I thought the directors, Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud, did an excellent job of capturing my attention and emotions, even as an adult.

The Secret Life of Pets progresses smoothly and has some twists and turns I did not expect. The movie really does stretch the imagination, especially thanks to the strong visuals. The facial expressions of the animals were priceless at times. Depending on the character’s role in the film, their appearances went accordingly.  

Snowball (Kevin Hart), is the insane rabbit that causes many of the disputes throughout the story. He played an adorable little rabbit, and I was pleasantly shocked to hear his voice come out of its mouth. The character introduced comedy into the movie and I thought it was an essential aspect to the story. My favorite character was Max, but I think it depends on personality and animal preferences for most people.

I would recommend this movie to anyone of any age, with an appreciation for dogs, and I would give it 5 out of 5 stars. It addressed the curiosity I have about what exactly my pets do around the house when I am not home, and from the giggles and comments I heard in the audience, it did for them too. The Secret Life of Pets reaches far into the imagination of most people, and that is precisely what makes it an outstanding film.