THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2
Heartfelt Moments Meet a Subpar Plot
What You Need To Know
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 begins with Max, a dog who lives in New York City, explaining that he used to be opposed to children until his owner met and married her husband, and the pair had their first child, Liam. Max recounts that he’s come to love Liam as a toddler and wants to protect him from harm’s way. In fact, that’s his whole mission in life.
Max, Duke (the other dog in the family), Liam, and their owners go on vacation outside the city to visit a relative who lives on a farm. Before leaving, Max entrusts his beloved squeaky toy to his friend, Gidget, who vows to protect it through whatever it takes. Meanwhile, a dog named Daisy comes by the window of Snowball, a bunny who likes to pretend he’s a superhero. She explains that when she was on a plane, she saw a tiger who looked like he was kept against his will. She needs a superhero to go with her to help her save him from a circus and a mean circus wrangler!
While at the farm, Max and Duke adjust to staying outdoors and a host of new sounds and experiences. Rooster is the top dog on the farm, in charge of shepherding all the animals and keeping them safe. Through a series of events, Max accidentally loses a baby sheep and must go with Rooster to save him.
Back in New York, Gidget loses Max’s toy and must contrive a plan to get it back from an apartment with an old cat lady. Snowball and Daisy successfully rescue the tiger but a pack of wolves from the circus are hot on their tails!
What will become of all these pets?
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 has many heartfelt themes that draw on Christian, biblical principles such as sacrifice, bravery, mentorship, and caring for others. Parents should be aware of one scene near the end of the credits where one of the male pets gets dressed up like a girl. The movie also has some light environmental elements but ultimately communicates the biblical position that animals should be treated with respect.
Audiences who saw the first movie will be familiar with the characters and children will find plenty of scenes to be laugh out loud funny. However, the plot falls short in a few areas and is wrapped up very quickly at the end, but that shouldn’t deter moviegoers from enjoying THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2. Movieguide® recommends light caution for younger children due to some animated violence and other miscellaneous immorality.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Christian, biblical themes of sacrifice, tenderness, care, mentorship, and family, including some pro-life elements, but there’s one quick moment as the movie ends where a male character gets dressed up like a princess and says, “ I love it” and some light environmentalist elements
Foul Language
Character says “pissed,” cow farts, dog eats poop, cat vomits hairballs, and some scatological humor
Violence
Moderate violence includes dog bites a pig’s tail, dog almost eats a bird, characters fight and chase after one another, character whips and points gun at animals, and tiger gets tazed
Sex
No sex, but two dogs almost kiss
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
No alcohol use
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs, but cat gets a high off catnip, but only adults will understand this, and children will just think the cat is acting silly;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Circus wrangler threatens to turn white tiger into a coat to get him to obey him, but he’s rescued, rudeness, trickery, and animal characters intentionally mess with humans.
