The Secret Life of Pets 2 Blu-ray Review

Universal’s Blu-ray edition of "The Secret Life of Pets 2" delivers a reference-quality 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, presenting an impeccable visual experience. The digital transfer is razor-sharp, with the level of detail extending to the minutest elements — from the fine lines in the clothing of the humans to the individual hairs of each pet. The 1.85:1 aspect ratio reveals every blade of grass and leaf with striking clarity, bringing life to Max's nose textures, rust spots on Rooster’s vintage-truck dog home, and even the minute details on Max's bee toy. Blacks are deep and dynamic, maintaining enriching gradational highlights without a hint of crushing. Whites are crisp and bright without clipping, providing excellent contrast.

Colors in this Blu-ray presentation are nothing short of spectacular. The image flaunts vivacious, richly saturated hues with a three-dimensional quality that brings each frame to life. The Blu-ray showcases a kaleidoscope of colors — blues, reds, greens, purples, and yellows shine with remarkable punch and intensity. The primary colors are bold and brilliant, intermixed with nuanced secondary hues that add depth and detail to the animated landscapes and characters alike. There is no evidence of banding, aliasing, or any other digital artifacts, ensuring a pristine viewing experience.

The visual storytelling is further enhanced by the meticulous detail in environmental textures — whether it's the sprawling cityscapes, the rustic charm of the country farm, or the eerie interiors of the cat lady’s apartment. Each location displays striking command over color and texture, allowing viewers to immerse themselves fully in both bright, sunny scenes and darker, moodier moments without any loss of detail or visual integrity. This Blu-ray truly represents a feast for the eyes and stands as a pinnacle of digital animation presentation.

The Dolby Atmos track on "The Secret Life of Pets 2" Blu-ray delivers an immersive and well-balanced audio experience. Universal ensures that the mix vibrantly brings life to the film, with extensive use of surrounds creating a palpable sense of place. From the bustling city streets, farm environments, and thrilling moments in a circus setting, the track masterfully incorporates ambient sounds and discreet effects. The heights are employed judiciously, adding depth to atmospheric soundscapes and highlighting key action scenes, such as the exhilarating train rescue. The low-frequency effects (LFE) are robust, offering substantial bass that enhances impactful moments like Max's leap onto the train.

The audio objects in the Dolby Atmos mix contribute to a tangible level of immersion that aligns seamlessly with on-screen events. The overhead channels provide added dimensionality without overwhelming, especially during action-packed sequences like the gang's daring escapades. The soundtrack maintains an excellent balance between atmosphere and discrete sound placement, ensuring an entertaining listening experience. The track's clarity and detailing in the mid-range are exceptional, with well-prioritized vocal placement ensuring dialogue remains crisp and intelligible amidst the dynamic soundscape.

Notably, the Dolby Atmos soundtrack exhibits superb directionality and spatial placement, effectively utilizing the ceiling speakers for panning effects and enhancing immersion. While some scenes are more consistently immersive than others, for an animated children's feature, the mix achieves a delightful soundfield that complements the visuals brilliantly. With music seamlessly integrated across the stage and low-end frequencies providing necessary punch, the audio design captures every environmental nuance and character action. Overall, this Dolby Atmos mix is a tour de force of sonic excellence, enveloping the listener in an engaging and crystal-clear auditory experience.

The Blu-ray release of "The Secret Life of Pets 2" offers an extensive selection of extras that cater to fans of all ages. The additional content includes mini-movies, behind-the-scenes features, deleted scenes, interactive activities, and more. The mini-movies, “Super Gidget” and “Minion Scouts,” provide delightful short adventures. Featurettes like “The Making of the Mini-Movies” and “A Tapestry of a Tail” give insightful glimpses into the creative process. For a hands-on experience, there are "How to Draw" sessions and “Frame by Frame” flip book tutorials. The character pods and interviews with voice actors provide an engaging look at the film’s characters. Moreover, the disc includes lyric videos, a pet massage tutorial, and even a unique motion comic adventure titled “The Further Adventures of Captain Snowball.”

Extras included in this disc:

• Mini-Movies: Short films featuring Gidget and Minions.
• The Making of the Mini-Movies: Insight into the creation of the mini-movies.
• Deleted Scenes: Additional scenes providing more character depth.
• A Tapestry of a Tail – The Making of: Behind-the-scenes featurette on making the film.
• How to Draw: Tutorials on drawing main characters.
• Frame by Frame – How to Make a Flip Book: DIY animation guide.
• Character Pods: Voice actors discussing their roles.
• My Buddy and Me: Cast and crew talk about their pets.
• The Further Adventures of Captain Snowball: Interactive motion comic adventure.
• Pets with Jobs – A Documentary: Real-world working animals featurette.
• A Party Fit for a Pet: Step-by-step pet party planning guide.
• Relax the Cat: The Secret Life of Pet Massage: Pet massage techniques.
• Pops’ Puppy Training School with Kevin Hart: Puppy training tips from Kevin Hart.
• Production Pets: Gallery of pets owned by the filmmakers.
• Pet’s Yule Log: Animated Yule Log featuring characters from the film.
• Lyric Videos: Karaoke-style lyric videos for two songs.

"The Secret Life of Pets 2" follows up its predecessor with a lighter, more charming storyline that fans of the franchise—and new viewers—are likely to enjoy. Returning characters, Max and Duke, navigate the complexities of their expanding human family with the introduction of a baby, Liam. This new addition causes upheaval initially but soon leads to heartwarming moments and character growth, primarily for Max, now voiced by Patton Oswalt. The journey takes Max from an overprotective dog suffering from nervous afflictions to one learning life's real meaning with the help of an old farm dog named Rooster, brought to life by Harrison Ford.

Meanwhile, the movie balances multiple subplots featuring other beloved characters. Gidget's (Jenny Slate) quest to retrieve Max’s favorite toy from a group of feral cats introduces a humorous element, especially with Lake Bell’s passive-aggressive Chloe providing witty interactions. Simultaneously, Snowball (Kevin Hart) embarks on a high-energy mission to rescue a mistreated white tiger cub from a nefarious circus owner. These side adventures inject an element of goofiness and charm into the narrative but can sometimes feel disjointed due to their episodic nature.

Despite juggling several characters and plot lines, "The Secret Life of Pets 2" manages to stitch together a coherent and enjoyable experience. While some elements might appear as mere extensions of mini-movies, the film succeeds in delivering scattered laughs and vibrant visuals. The voice acting, particularly Oswalt’s effortless transition as Max and Ford’s gruff yet endearing Rooster, stands out alongside the strong supporting cast. The movie's inherent simplicity compared to its predecessor works in its favor, providing a fun watch that focuses on personal growth and light-hearted adventures. Rated PG for some action and rude humor, this sequel offers an engaging family experience with a blend of meaningful lessons and comedic escapades.

"The Secret Life of Pets 2" delights viewers with a fresh batch of zany misadventures featuring a lovable ensemble cast of Manhattan pets. Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, and Harrison Ford lend their voices to this well-rounded production, delivering energetic performances that captivate younger audiences. Directed by Chris Renaud and Jonathan del Val, the animation expertly balances humor with the occasional somber moment, maintaining a light-hearted tone perfect for family viewing. The plot, while lacking deeper thematic appeal, excels in its primary mission: entertaining children and delighting fans of the first film with new adventures.

From a technical standpoint, Universal's Blu-ray release does not disappoint. Presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio with AVC encoding, the video quality is exceptional, showcasing vibrant colors and razor-sharp details that bring the animated world to life. The Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core) audio track delivers an immersive experience, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals. Additional language options include Spanish and French DD+ 7.1, with subtitles available in English SDH, Spanish, and French. The disc is further bolstered by a wealth of special features, ensuring that viewers have plenty of behind-the-scenes content to explore.

Yes, "The Secret Life of Pets 2" is a kids' movie, and no it’s not as good as some of Universal’s big ones like "Despicable Me" and "The Minions Movie." However, it’s a light and fluffy adventure movie that is actually a good deal better than the first movie (which is kind of a shocker). I had a good time with the laid-back kids' film and the audio and video specs are completely to die for. Pure digital eye and ear candy for home theater enthusiasts. The Blu-ray is stacked with quite an array of special features and if you like what you see in the trailer, this is well worth checking out. Definitely a fun watch.

Technical Specifications:

• Starring: Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Harrison Ford, Eric Stonestreet, Jenny Slate, Tiffany Haddish, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Nick Kroll, Pete Holmes, Henry Lynch
• Directed by: Chris Renaud, Jonathan del Val
• Written by: Brian Lynch
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 AVC
• Audio: English: Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Core), Spanish, French DD+ 7.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
• Studio: Universal
• Rated: PG
• Runtime: 86 minutes
• Blu-Ray Release Date: August 27th, 2019

Recommendation: Entertaining Watch