Review by BabelAlexandria

This fun if formulaic romp through the daily lives of Manhattan apartment dogs and their associates broadens the scope of its 1950s inspiration: it's not just dogs in a house this time, we're looking at a melting pot of different species from the same apartment building (including a hawk on the roof!) who get along reasonably well, at least on the surface; and instead of a puppy looking for attention after a baby joins the family, this movie features a struggle between two grown dogs for the favor of their single, 20-something female owner. The plot is very predictable, but there were a couple of weird things that stood out to me. First, the animation for "New York" is mostly fantasy: it looks New York-ish, but a lot of buildings don't actually exist. I guess that's easy to do in Manhattan, just add a random skyscraper; Soul felt more authentically Brooklyn. Second, some of the pets are attempting a "revolution" against their owners, but, despite that, there is no serious engagement with animal rights. Third, what is up with the prey animals being psychotic and mean spirited?!? My kiddos and I really disliked "Snowball," probably the worst portrayal of a rabbit we've seen yet! Otherwise, they enjoyed the movie.