What the ‘Secret Life of Pets’ home alone might be

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We always knew there was something going on with our pets after we leave the house. The humans behind “Despicable Me” (2010) claw their way back with this animated feature about the “Secret Lives of Pets.” The animators so faithfully capture our suspicions of pet behavior that we wonder if they hid video cameras while away at work.

Dog people and cat people alike will agree these scenes are a tasty treat. We appreciate how the bond between a pet and its owner is depicted. Especially noteworthy is the pet’s unconditional loyalty. As the story progresses, the plausibility becomes even more cartoonish (well, it is a cartoon) and attention span grows inversely to your age.

In a Manhattan apartment building, we are introduced to a dozen or so pets in individual units. They seem to love their homes, but they find a way to move freely enough to gather together when their masters leave for the day. The canines are Max, a white wiry terrier; Duke, a large brown “Muppet-type” stray; and Gidget, a little white fur-ball of a dog who seems to have a crush on Max.

There are also a few cats, a disoriented guinea pig, a cute but violent bunny rabbit and a creepy looking hawk. Max’s whole world revolves around his master Katie, so he doesn’t understand where she goes or why she leaves each day. After she leaves, Gidget asks Max if he has any plans for the day. Max dutifully responds, “Yes, big, big stuff today, Gidget. I got big plans. I’m gonna sit here, and I’m gonna wait for Katie to come back.”

Max has it so good with Katie until the day she adopts Duke. Max is crushed. Expect the fur to fly, as his world will never be the same. Max and Duke are on a mutually destructive path until they get lost in the park and discover an army of misplaced pets. Snowball the bunny, their sadistic leader, explains how they have suffered at the hands of man. They are determined to take revenge against household pets and their masters.

In order to survive, Max and Duke must put their differences behind them and work together to escape and then find their way home. Writers Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio and Brian Lynch load the script with one-liners, a series of misadventures and routine sight gags. Directors Yarrow Cheney and Chris Renaud keep the action moving quickly enough to keep our focus on the events, even as the story diminishes in maturity.

We typically frown on product placement in films, but in the scene where the boy who owns the guinea pig is in his room, there is a toy Minion on his bedside table. Then, on the back of the bus Snowball is riding (in the trailer) there is a poster for the film “Sing,” expected to be released later this year. So all is forgiven, this time.

We’ve seen more technically advanced animation, but each scene is consistently colorful and each critter cute, cuddly and precocious. In addition to a lively musical score from Academy Award winner Alexandre Desplat (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”), we are treated to appropriately placed delightful songs, including Taylor Swift’s “Welcome to New York,” “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and “You’re My Best Friend” by Queen.

The voices are provided by Louis C.K. as Max, Eric Stonestreet as Duke, Kevin Hart as the Bunny, Jenny Slate as Gidget, Ellie Kemper as Katie, Albert Brooks as Tiberius the Hawk, Lake Bell as Chloe the cat, and Dana Carvey as Pops, the Bassett Hound.

“Secret Life of Pets” is 90 minutes and rated PG for action and rude humor. The rating does not mention violence but includes violent scuffles, near-death experiences and strong suggestions of murder. This could be mistaken as “Toy Story” with animals, but it’s not nearly as memorable, other than the cute and furry little creatures.

Humans can still learn a lot about social harmony, even from cartoons. The message of people (or animals) working together towards a larger goal, even with those who do not agree, seems so fundamental. Yet, in our political environment, candidates and media continue to chase their tails and bark up the wrong tree; ugh.