Strays
Jamie Foxx has starred in films of widely varying quality, but his work as a voice actor has served a a consistent thru-line. In Soul and both Rio films, the Oscar winner’s distinct verbal skills are key to the movies’ appeal — a tradition that continues with Strays, which also celebrates his gifts delivering some of the most delightfully foul language this side of South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut.
Though technically the tale of Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell), a cute, clueless mutt abandoned by his horrible human owner Doug (Will Forte), Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar director Josh Greenbaum’s live-action romp with animated canine mouths firmly belongs to Foxx’s Bug, a bombastic, street-smart terrier whose big talk clashes with his minuscule frame.
As Bug and fellow dogs Maggie (Isla Fisher), and Hunter (Randall Park) show Reggie the joys of independence, raunchy fun ensues and f-bombs fly, especially once Reggie embraces his new life and devotes himself to the shrug-worthy mission of returning home and, er, using his teeth to turn Doug into a eunuch.
One hilarious set piece after another ensues and writer Dan Perrault (American Vandal) also finds room to lampoon hokey tearjerkers A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Journey with two stars from those films: Josh Gad voicing a “narration dog” and Dennis Quaid, who delivers the movie’s funniest line, as himself.
While Strays excels at getting into the mind of a dog in humorous ways, it also doesn’t shy away from the more terrifying aspects of canine life. A sequence in which these four-legged friends encounter fireworks at a carnival intelligently conveys the amplified havoc that such sounds wreak on doggy ears, and the threats posed by Animal Control professionals likewise aren’t sanitized.
These deeper layers suggest Greenbaum and Perrault are interested in more than just provocative humor — but, no denying it: they’re also mostly focused on sex jokes and bathroom humor. The combination makes for a near ideal August comedy.
Grade: B. Rated R. Now playing at Now playing at AMC River Hills 10, Carolina Cinemark, and Regal Biltmore Grande.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
