The Secret Life of Pets Blu-ray Review

The Secret Life of Pets’ Blu-ray video presentation is a visual feast, maintaining the film's 1.85:1 aspect ratio and utilizing the AVC codec for a pristine 1080p transfer. The clarity and detail are both exceptional, boasting textures so fine that each strand of fur and intricate surface detail are distinctly visible. The cityscape of New York shines with vibrant colors and precise detailing, particularly in scenes set in Central Park, where the autumnal hues are both vivid and meticulously depicted. Noteworthy is the lack of banding, aliasing, or any visual distortions, which underscores the transfer's robustness.

The color palette utilized in this video transfer is nothing short of spectacular, delivering a rich and vibrant array of tones that span the gamut from the characters’ colorful fur to the various cityscapes they navigate. The animal furs exhibit an almost tactile quality, with individual hairs and textures reacting naturally to movement. Duke's fur, in particular, stands out for its lifelike bounce and texture. This sharpness and clarity extend to man-made objects as well, where every minute detail—whether rustic or refined—is captured with striking efficiency.

Overall, this Blu-ray presentation not only faithfully reproduces the film’s visual ingenuity but also elevates it with reference-quality picture sharpness and contrast. The transfer does justice to the unique animation style of Illumination, making for a demo-worthy showcase. For aficionados of high-definition animation, The Secret Life of Pets on Blu-ray is an exemplar of what the format can achieve, providing a continuously engaging and visually delightful experience.

The Dolby Atmos soundtrack on "The Secret Life of Pets" Blu-ray offers an engaging audio experience, characterized by rich, detailed, and immersive soundscapes. The bass is robust, particularly during action sequences and musical segments, adding significant depth that complements the expansive front-to-back staging. Musical transitions are seamless and expertly defined, maintaining clarity across different styles. Dialogue is crisply rendered and consistently prioritized at the center channel, ensuring it remains intelligible amid the surrounding action and environmental sounds.

The overhead channels, though mainly used for ambiance, contribute to a lifelike aural environment with moments like booming thunder early in the film and echoing stampedes in the sewers. The rear channels are effectively engaged, especially during chase scenes or the vivid depiction of Max and Duke surrounded by angry cats with directional hisses and meows. Panning effects are smooth and precise, enhancing the immersive quality of the mix. Although some may find the atmospheric effects slightly less enveloping compared to top-tier animated mixes, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise exemplary audio presentation.

The Blu Ray extras of "The Secret Life of Pets" offer a comprehensive yet succinct set of features that enhance the viewing experience. Professionals behind the film, including directors Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud, writer Brian Lynch, and producer Chris Meledandri, provide insightful commentary on their creative processes. Short segments reveal the voice actors' experiences, while animal trainer Molly O’Neill teams up with Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart for engaging hands-on sessions with animals. Additional features explore the technical side of animation, grooming tips, and even mini-movies that extend the whimsical world of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

The Humans That Brought You Pets: Quick interviews with the film's creators.
Animals Can Talk: Meet the Actors: Fast-paced chats with the voice actors.
All About the Pets: On-set animal interactions with actors and a trainer.
Hairstylist to the Dogs: Grooming tips with Eric Stonestreet and Jess Rona.
How to Make an Animated Film: Insight into the animation process.
Anatomy of a Scene: Breakdown of an animated scene.
The Best of Snowball: Highlights of the character Snowball.
Lyric Video: "Lovely Day" set to animation.
Hot Dog Sing-Along: Sing-along segment.
Fandango Brian the Minion on Pets: Minions' commentary on the film.
GoPro The Secret Life of Pets: GoPro commercial intertwined with scenes.
Sing Trailer: Promo trailer for "Sing".
Mini-Movies: Three mini-movies and a making-of featurette.

• NormanTV
• Weenie
• Mower Minions
• The Making of the Mini-Movies

In 2016, Illumination Entertainment's "The Secret Life of Pets" captivated audiences with a vibrant depiction of pets' lives when their owners are away. Central to the story is Max, voiced by Louis C.K., whose idyllic life with owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) is upended by the arrival of another dog, Duke (Eric Stonestreet). Their rivalry quickly escalates into a wild adventure that sees them navigate city dangers, confront animal control, and flee from the vengeful bunny Snowball (Kevin Hart). The plot echoes themes from "Toy Story," though it uniquely explores animal stereotypes and human-pet dynamics. While the film's energetic humor and imaginative animation make for an engaging experience, it occasionally dips into darker, less original narratives.

Max and Duke's fraught relationship propels the movie through a whirlwind of events that, while not strikingly original, are elevated by high-caliber voice acting and top-notch animation. The film leverages these strengths to create distinct characters, though they sometimes feel like archetypal figures from similar movies. Despite this, "The Secret Life of Pets" maintains a high laugh-per-minute ratio, supported by well-executed gags and slapstick humor. The story blends action and sentiment, avoiding excessive mawkishness while balancing thrills with moments of genuine emotion. Kevin Hart's Snowball adds a touch of darkness that contrasts with the adorable antics of other characters, offering a unique but somewhat polarizing addition to the film.

The voice cast delivers stellar performances across the board. Louis C.K.'s loyal and affectionate portrayal of Max resonates with pet lovers, while Eric Stonestreet's Duke grows more endearing as the story progresses. Jenny Slate’s Gidget and Lake Bell’s Chloe bring charm and humor, adding depth to their roles. Although Kevin Hart's Snowball may grate on some viewers, his character is undeniably memorable. Technically, the animation is superb, showcasing vivid character designs that enhance each animal's personality, ensuring that "The Secret Life of Pets" stands out despite its narrative shortcomings.

"The Secret Life of Pets" emerges as a charming and whimsical animated feature that appeals broadly to audiences with its humorous take on what pets do when their owners are away. While the narrative itself edges towards a more conventional adventure rather than delving deeply into untapped creativity, the film's strengths lie in its vibrant animation and top-tier voice acting. Its reliance on contemporary pop-culture references may not provide lasting appeal, and similarities to other animated properties somewhat diminish its novelty.

Technically speaking, Universal's Blu-ray release of "The Secret Life of Pets" is impressive. The high-definition video quality is impeccable, showcasing the film's gorgeous, stylized animation with striking clarity and detail. The Dolby Atmos audio track offers an immersive auditory experience, making it a noteworthy addition to any Blu-ray collection. Additional contents include three engaging mini-movies and a suite of short, entertaining features—enhancing the overall value of the release.

In conclusion, "The Secret Life of Pets" delivers decent entertainment that mostly entertains with its sharp animation and expert voice work. While it might lack depth in storyline and lean heavily on dated references, its technical execution on Blu-ray is exceptional, providing a treat for the eyes and ears. It is worth a look for its visual and auditory excellence alone.