Fixed – Film Review

Genndy Tartakovsky has long been celebrated for his dynamic animation style and sharp comedic instincts in works like Samurai Jack, Primal, and Hotel Transylvania. With Fixed, his first foray into both adult animation and traditional 2D work under the Sony Pictures Animation banner, expectations were high. Unfortunately, despite its intriguing premise and promise of raunchy humor, Fixed feels like an awkward, drawn-out one-joke movie that quickly wears out its welcome, offering neither the wit nor the narrative punch to justify its feature-length runtime.

Fixed has a concept that could’ve been mined for outrageous comedic gold: a dog discovering he’s about to be neutered and deciding to have one last hurrah before losing his “manhood.” In theory, it’s a zany, over-the-top setup that could allow for a blend of absurdity, heartfelt moments, and boundary-pushing humor.

Instead, the film leans too heavily into low-brow gags without much variety. The humor becomes repetitive within the first 15 minutes, as the central joke—dogs making endless sexual innuendos and awkward references—never evolves. What should have been a springboard for creative set pieces turns into a slog of juvenile punchlines that rarely land, especially when stretched over the course of a full-length film.

Tartakovsky’s fingerprints are visible in the film’s brisk pacing and vibrant animation style, but Fixed lacks the tonal control that made his past work so appealing. The movie struggles to balance crude humor with emotional beats, resulting in tonal whiplash. Moments that seem poised to be touching or meaningful are undercut by an ill-timed gag, making it hard to connect with the characters on anything deeper than a surface level.

Worse still, the film’s pacing is erratic—some sequences drag on far too long while others rush past moments that could have added depth to the story. The “one last wild night” structure feels like a string of unrelated skits rather than a cohesive journey, giving the impression of a film built from loosely connected ideas rather than a carefully constructed narrative.

While the voice cast is stacked with comedic talent, they’re given surprisingly little to work with. Adam DeVine’s Bull should be a charming, roguish protagonist, but instead he comes across as grating and one-note. Idris Elba’s Rocco has flashes of charisma, but the script reduces him to delivering the occasional tough-guy quip. Kathryn Hahn, usually a scene-stealer, has her talents wasted on a flat romantic subplot that feels more obligatory than engaging.

Supporting characters like Fetch and Sterling have comedic potential but are over-reliant on stereotypes—Fetch as the wannabe influencer and Sterling as the pompous show dog—without any deeper layers to make them memorable. Even the group dynamic among Bull and his friends, which should be the film’s beating heart, feels underdeveloped and lacking in genuine camaraderie.

Adult animation can thrive when it uses mature themes to explore relatable topics or to satirize societal norms. Here, however, the “adult” content boils down to endless sexual jokes and crude gags that rarely escalate or surprise. Instead of layering its humor with wit, the film doubles down on shock value in a way that feels more desperate than daring.

The comedic beats often rely on repeating the same types of punchlines—innuendos, bodily function jokes, and overtly sexualized situations—without finding fresh angles. By the halfway mark, it becomes clear that the film’s humor well has run dry, and the second half struggles to offer anything new.

If Fixed has one consistently strong element, it’s the animation itself. Tartakovsky’s knack for expressive character design and fluid, exaggerated movement is still present, and the film’s traditionally animated aesthetic offers a welcome break from the dominance of 3D CGI in modern animation.

Backgrounds are colorful, and the visual gags—when they work—land thanks to clever staging and sharp timing. Unfortunately, beautiful animation can only do so much when it’s in service of a weak story and uninspired jokes. The contrast between the visual artistry and the shallow humor makes the experience feel even more disappointing, as it’s clear there was talent and effort behind the craft, just not behind the script.

Beneath the crass humor, there are threads of potentially rich themes—facing change, fear of loss, and finding self-worth beyond physical attributes. These ideas could have elevated Fixed beyond a one-note sex comedy into something both funny and meaningful. However, the film never truly commits to exploring them.

Any time a moment of vulnerability appears, it’s quickly buried under another cheap gag. As a result, the film lacks emotional resonance, leaving the audience with little reason to care about the outcome beyond curiosity about how far it will push its crude premise.

It’s almost frustrating to hear such a talented ensemble stuck in a script that doesn’t allow them to shine. Adam DeVine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, and Bobby Moynihan are all capable of delivering sharp, character-driven comedy, but here they’re reduced to delivering flat lines in service of repetitive humor.

Even moments that seem designed for them to improvise or inject personality feel strangely stifled. The result is a film that sounds as tired as it feels, with performances that rarely spark the kind of energy needed to make this sort of absurd premise work.

Given Tartakovsky’s track record, Fixed stands out as a rare creative stumble. While it’s admirable that he and Sony Pictures Animation took a risk with a fully 2D, adult-oriented film, the execution feels rushed and underdeveloped. Instead of offering a fresh take on adult animation, it feels like an overextended Saturday morning cartoon skit that mistakes raunchiness for cleverness.

The ambition to blend traditional animation with mature storytelling is commendable, but without a stronger script, sharper humor, and more fully realized characters, the film feels less like a bold leap forward and more like a miscalculated experiment.

Fixed could have been a standout in the growing field of adult animated films—a visually striking, hilariously irreverent take on a ridiculous premise. Instead, it’s a prime example of how style cannot make up for a lack of substance. The one-note humor grows stale quickly, the characters fail to engage, and the narrative never finds its footing.

While fans of Tartakovsky may appreciate the animation craft on display, most viewers will likely walk away feeling underwhelmed and disappointed. What could have been a sharp, side-splitting romp instead feels like a neutered comedy in more ways than one.

Beautifully animated but woefully underwritten, Fixed is a frustrating example of wasted potential, offering little more than an overextended dirty joke.