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Secret Life of Pets 2, The

6/10

Stars: Voices: Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Eric Stonestreet, Jenny Slate, Tiffany Haddish, Lake Bell, Nick Kroll, Dana Carvey, Ellie Kemper, Chris Renaud, Hannibal Buress, Bobby Moynihan, Harrison Ford

Director: Chris Renaud

If at first you succeed, make a sequel.

Which, as cinema history confirms, is one of Hollywood's most enduring maxims.

And so, with The Secret Life of Pets having made over $875 million, director Renaud and scenarist Lynch return to take another bite at the box office with another dose of the zany animalistic adventures of man's beast friends.

Its gaudy, noisy and neatly designed to appeal to its target audience. Accompanying adults be warned.

Once again we are back with apparently perfect Manhattan pets Max, Chloe, Snowball and Daisy who their owners believe are everything human-loving animals are meant to be. But, in fact, the animal quartet lead double lives, courageously going wild and landing in dangerous situations.

Which, here, leads them to boldly go to the rescue of an innocent tiger who had been taken captive to provide entertainment for mere humans - and do they succeed in their brave mission?

Well, does a dog have four legs?

Grumpy farm dog Rooster who joins Our Heroes in their brave quest does have four legs of course.

But, rather more interestingly, Rooster boasts a celebrated voice. 42 years ago Harrison Ford blasted off into space and stardom as Han Solo. Now he's back on Earth and heard but not seen, dubbing a dog.

That's Show Business.

Alan Frank

France/Japan/ USA 2019. UK Distributor: Universal. Colour.
86 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: U.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 0, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 24 May 2019