The duo are ingratiated into the group (on the pretence they killed their owner), but are soon discovered.

Max is instantly jealous, and when Duke overhears him trying to persuade Katie to stick to one animal (although all she hears is barking - he’s a dog) the two of them clash, beginning a battle of one-upmanship that escalates until they’re both collarless and in the clutches of New York’s animal control.Įnter the villains: a group of abandoned animals, the ‘Flushed Pets’, who stage an assault on the animal control van to rescue a colleague, freeing Max and Duke in the process. Duke (Eric Stonestreet) is the interloper - a giant Newfoundland from the pound. Max (Louis CK) is the established pet, a Jack Russell who’s lived with his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) since he was a puppy. But the set-up isn’t handled as smartly - both Max and Duke behave so poorly, it’s difficult to feel sympathy for either of them.

The similarities to Toy Story, beyond even that initial premise, are pronounced - from the colourful characters in the group they leave behind, to the murderous villains they encounter, and even the idea their owners are unaware of their secret lives. Despite falling into familiarity, it’s a likable film.

The secret life of pets movie full