Really surprised I went to watch this because it's not my type of movie but the R rating was soo appealing and I'm glad I went because it was a blast. Reminded me of Ted, the movie defied expectations. If you had come across teaser photos or muted clips, you might assume it's aimed at kids, but it's far from it.
If you're a dog lover, the emotional aspect will undoubtedly resonate with you more. Personally, I lean towards cats but dogs are fine, I guess. That didn't detract from how much I loved the movie's humor. It was undoubtedly its strong suit and what won me over. Despite its comedic focus, the film carried a meaningful message and theme that prevented it from being a mere laugh-fest. It blended everything in so well. I can already see the 'the best love is the hardest' message might hit home for some; definitely take that friend you know in a toxic relationship to watch this with at the cinema lol.
The plot, while not groundbreaking, wasn't a drawback for me, considering it's unrealistic to expect a talking dog movie to revolutionize storytelling. Initially, I felt Hunter's voice casting was slightly off, but got accustomed to it pretty quickly. I couldn't help but imagine Jamie Foxx's Bug as Samuel L. Jackson, although Foxx was still outstanding. Nice to see a mini-reunion between Josh Gad and Isla Fisher after Wolf Like Me, which I still think I'm the only one who loved it.
Soundtrack was cool. Again, this was funny, there's a few jokes too that can go unnoticed because they're not as prominent as the rest too. I loved the lighter-shade humans line. The cameos were pretty decent too, especially the couch. With a runtime of just over an hour and a half, the pacing was spot on, avoiding any unnecessary plot filler or rushed sequences. The film's message was relatable and skillfully written, making it clear that it wasn't merely about dogs. And random thought, did that kid really let a stray dog lick him all over the mouth?
Anyway, I'd definitely recommend, especially if you loved movies like Ted. It's not what it seems and is definitely a good laugh. And don't forget to stick around for the mid-credit scene; even though Google said there were no post-credit scenes, it's definitely worth the wait.
