Strays: Movie Review

Vocal cast: Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Randall Park, Isla Fisher, Will Forte

Director: Josh Greenbaum

Dog-related comedies are few and far between and most animal fare is confined to the world of PG-rated fare.

So while Strays is to be commended for breaking the canine curse and putting the actual cursing into to what all extents is a buddy comedy with a formulaic ride and nod to many animal movie tropes, it's disappointing to note that it's more a sporadic affair than a gut-busting continual comedy killer.

Ferrell voices a sweetly hapless terrier called Reggie, who's stuck in a toxic relationship with his hateful owner Doug (Forte, in a bong-heavy stoner turn) but who is blissfully unaware of the abuse, having never known any other kind of love.

When Reggie's dumped for a new game of Fetch, he finds himself lost and thrust into the world of damaged Bug (a deranged Foxx), as well as laidback Maggie (Fisher) and former coulda-been canine contender sniffer dog Hunter (Park), it's up to the four of them to get back to Doug to exact revenge.

So far, so familiar - in terms of Road Trip, this is Homeward Bound via the prism of potty-mouthed shenanigans.

And in truth, there are some funny moments that riff on the absurdities of life as a dog, and will amuse the many puerile minds in the audience, boozed up and looking for some brain-light entertainment.

But too much of Strays is too hit and miss to even sustain 90 minutes of Superbad-styled silliness. Getting caught up tonally in moments that feel more PG than R along with a message about getting out of toxic relationships and emotional abuse, Strays meanders when it should be going full-tilt.

Even though it adopts real life mixed with CGI a la Babe, there's still a reality about these four rapscallions that makes their journey worthwhile enduring in parts - whereas other moments feel like you just want it to end.

Sure, there's commentary on those keeping dogs when they don't want to, and an indictment on how humans actually behave with animals - but most of Strays feels tonally adrift, a riff on burgeoning friendship and trust among outsiders that we've all seen before but which feels not quite clever enough to make the most of its premise.