Directed by: Chris Renaud
Written by: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch
Starring: Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate
Run time: 87 minutes
Summary: Max the terrier’s’ quiet life is turned upside down when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.
This core idea, which is what do our pets do when they’re home alone is golden. It’s why I wanted to see THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS. Furthermore, I think it’s an inspiring proposition to get families and kids to see the movie.
Animal lovers, like myself, oftentimes wonder what their pets do all day long. I sit at my day job in film texting my family pictures of our bulldog Patch. We say, where’s Spoogie? (We call him Spoogie, pronounced SPOO-GEE).
My brother and I have debated getting a doggie cam, but realistically I think our baby just sleeps all day.
So, I LOVE the way this movie starts and I LOVE the way it ends. The in between lost my attention with its tangled story line. The beginning shows what each animal does when their owners leave. Some don’t care (like the cat) but others cry and some sit by the door.
When my brother leaves each day for work, Patch sits by the door and cries. So needless to say, the characteristics portrayed on screen were spot on.
I also appreciated the way the writers took certain temperaments of different breeds and intertwined those traits into the build of each character. One of the stars, Gidget, a little Pomeranian, fierce as the night, is fluffy and full of energy. That’s how most Pomeranians are. They bark a lot, they’re intense, but they’re very focused and loyal to the one’s they love. My girl Jenny Slate lent her voice to Gidget and did a fantastic job.
As the movie was drawing in on its final act, it showed all of the dog’s reactions to their owners coming home. One of the doggies got so excited to see his mom and dad, that he peed! There’s a new black lab puppy that just moved in next door to me. The other day I was playing with him near my elevator (his name is Duke) and he accidently peed on my foot!
A little over two years ago, my brother came home with a little bull dog puppy named Patch. I remember hopping off a flight from New York; so eager to meet him for the first time. I reminisce walking into my dads, hearing his little puppy bark from his crate. His little innocent eyes gazed out at me. I was an auntie for the first time and it was my job to make sure this little guy got everything he needed; to be fed, to be walked and to be loved.
To this day, the love I have for Patch is beyond. When Patch stays with me, everything is about him. We wake up and he goes right out, he gets his breakfast before I get my first cup of coffee – no questions asked. Patch is incredibly grounding for me; both physically and emotionally. Grounding is a natural way to improve stress and anxiety.
Have you ever walked barefoot on the sand and recalled this feeling that your leg is super attached to your body? Sometimes when my anxiety is super spiked, I feel as if I am having an out of body experience; my arms are not attached to my torso; I kind of feel disoriented in a way. Grounding brings me back down and makes me feel super present and in the moment.
When I pet Patch, I am totally in the here and now. When I care for him, it deepens this sense of purpose for me, which ultimately allows me to relax.
Yoga Pose: DOWNWARD FACING DOG
