Strays – Film Review

When a gullible Border Terrier named Reggie is abandoned on the streets by his selfish and ruthless owner Doug, an animal-hating drug addict who never wanted him, he teams up with other strays including a street-wise named Bug, an Australian Shepherd named Maggie, and a therapy Great Dane named Hunter to get revenge on Doug.

Strays, directed by Josh Greenbaum, sets out with the ambitious goal of blending slapstick humor with a heartwarming tale of underdog camaraderie. Centered around a gullible Border Terrier named Reggie, the film attempts to fuse revenge, redemption, and laughs through Reggie’s misadventures with a motley crew of street-smart strays. However, despite its star-studded voice cast including Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, and others, Strays stumbles right out of the gate and never recovers, resulting in a painfully unfunny experience that fails to connect with its audience.

The film’s premise, while intriguing on paper, falls flat in execution. Reggie, the titular character, is abandoned by his owner Doug, portrayed by Will Forte, who is an over-the-top caricature of a selfish and ruthless drug addict with an irrational hatred for animals. The abruptness of Doug’s decision to leave Reggie on the streets lacks sufficient backstory or context, making it difficult for the audience to empathize with the plight of the protagonist. This lack of emotional investment hampers the film’s ability to establish a strong foundation for the ensuing events.

The star-studded voice cast boasts familiar names like Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, and Randall Park. However, even their charismatic performances cannot salvage the film’s lifeless script. Will Ferrell’s portrayal of Reggie lacks depth, coming across as more annoying than endearing. Jamie Foxx’s Bug, touted as the street-wise Boston Terrier, is marred by one-dimensional dialogue and repetitive catchphrases, failing to elicit genuine laughter. Isla Fisher‘s Maggie, an Australian Shepherd, is relegated to the sidelines, deprived of any character development, and Randall Park’s Hunter, the therapy Great Dane, misses the mark in delivering any meaningful emotional impact.

The crux of any comedy lies in its ability to make the audience laugh, and unfortunately, Strays misses this mark by a mile. The attempts at humor are glaringly forced, relying heavily on juvenile sight gags and slapstick moments that often come across as predictable and uninspired. Reggie’s interactions with the other strays are littered with toilet humor and juvenile wordplay, showcasing a lack of wit and cleverness that are essential to successful comedies. The reliance on physical mishaps and overused comedic tropes quickly becomes tiresome, and the film’s desperate attempts to elicit laughter begin to feel more like a chore than entertainment.

Strays struggles with its tone, frequently veering between slapstick comedy and moments of supposed heartwarming bonding among the strays. This inconsistency undermines the emotional resonance the film aims to achieve, leaving the audience disconnected from both the characters and their struggles. The storyline attempts to mix elements of revenge and redemption, but the lack of character development and emotional investment prevents these arcs from landing with any impact.

The film’s plot unfolds predictably, mirroring a multitude of other animated films that center around a group of misfits banding together for a common cause. The script lacks originality, and the potential for delving into deeper themes like abandonment, loyalty, and redemption is squandered in favor of cheap laughs. The attempt to shoehorn these themes into the story feels forced, as they are never explored beyond surface-level interactions and clichéd resolutions.

Strays falls woefully short of its intended mark as a comedy film that blends humor with heart. Its underdeveloped characters, inconsistent tone, and lackluster attempts at humor make for an arduous viewing experience. The star-studded voice cast’s efforts are drowned in a script that fails to deliver genuine laughs or emotional engagement. From its unconvincing premise to its forced and unfunny gags, Strays misses every opportunity to create a memorable and enjoyable cinematic experience. Ultimately, it is a film that fails to leave a pawprint in the hearts of its audience and is destined to be quickly forgotten in the vast sea of animated comedies.