If you've a grá for seeing dogs effing and blinding, then this trip to the cinema really will be off the leash. You may never look at your pooch - or anyone else's - in the same way again.
Adopting the Farrelly brothers' MO of gross-out humour meets dewy-eyed sentimentality, Strays sees abandoned Border Terrier Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell) trying to make his way back to his heartless owner Doug (Will Forte) after he is dumped a long way from home. En route, the guileless little guy meets Boston Terrier Bug (Jamie Foxx), Australian Shepherd Maggie (Isla Fisher), and Great Dane Hunter (Randall Park), learning loads about life, love, lust, and lampposts.
Kudos to director Josh Greenbaum for insisting that his A-listers were in the studio together when doing the voices, because it does wonders for the chemistry between the quartet. They're perfectly cast as the dogs and make the characters their own.
In terms of technical wizardry and patience, Strays took a clearly insane amount of work to make its woof-as-you-like comedy a big-screen reality. A pity, then, that it lacks the laughs to qualify for must-see mayhem. There are some treats - best not to watch on a full stomach or while eating - but it needed more from start to finish. The thrill of cursing dogs actually wears off after a while. Who knew?!
There are crucial messages in here about responsible pet ownership and being a rescuer. Director Greenbaum did his bit for both when the cameras stopped rolling by adopting one of the stars of Strays. He now has "Will Ferrell living in my house".
A happy ending to go on top of a happy ending - now that really is doing the dog on it.
