Strays Movie Review

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For a comedy about dogs, “Strays” was impeccably constructed. Suppose you’re OK with filthy mouths, dirty thoughts and sexual innuendo. In that case, you’ll be happy with these adorable dogs saying and doing what you see.

At the beginning, we meet Reggie (Will Ferrell). He has a home he loves where his owner Doug (Will Forte), is usually drunk and blaming all his problems on the mutt that was left to him. Reggie doesn’t see himself as a mutt but is never called a good boy, only a bad dog. It’s a challenge Doug gives him. He feels he has always let Doug down and wants to do all he can to show his love for Doug and make Doug love him… even though he is continually abused.

Doug comes up with a new game called “Fetch and F*ck” where Doug takes Reggie to the middle of nowhere, tosses a tennis ball far off, and drives away. Reggie then runs to find the ball as Doug hopes he never sees him again. Reggie enjoys winning. Doug screams out his favorite word when he gets home with the ball. Reggie loves to win the game!! You can’t help but feel sorry for the naïve little guy.

As the movie goes on, you see that if you’re going to have dogs think how these particular strays do, the voices and the movements that go with them have to be right on. They couldn’t have been done better. Strays is the first live-action, seemingly kiddie movie with talking doggies to be Rated R. Let me say this now. No. This isn’t for the children; it’s for you. But that’s a plus, not a minus.

Their attitudes toward life, one another, people and their ignorance is brilliant. The way they’re presented is stellar. Their faces move perfectly with how and what they think, such as Bug (Jamie Foxx) teaching Reggie that the world is his as long as he just pees on what he wants, and it’s his. This is all a surprise to Reggie. Bug tells him that people are just using them. Dogs shouldn’t trust humans so much. He believes they only need dogs for their poop so they can make chocolate. He has seen them pick it up the minute he drops one. Bug and the team decide they will help poor Reggie get back at Doug.

Director Josh Greenbaum is a creator, director, and executive producer. He worked on a documentary series called Behind the Mask; about a subject you wouldn’t think was interesting until you watched it. It covered sports mascots and the people who give energy to their teams when they’re in those costumes. He got Hulu its first-ever Emmy nomination with that series.

He also directed Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar and a short film called Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Guide to Blowing Sh*T Up, which I now just have to see. He continually proves he can work with any and everyone, a famous robot, a bond, children and now dogs. And he’s unquestionably good at it.

With Strays, he’s working with writer Dan Perrault, who also has a popular series. Perrault co-created, wrote and executive produced for Netflix a True crime “mockumentary” called American Vandal. Great. Another show I have to add to my list of things I’ve missed and need to see. Another he created was “Players.” “Strays” allowed him to show he was ready for the next step. I’m glad he got the job because he knows exactly how to make his audience laugh and will only get better from here.

Please don’t make the mistake I’ve made by missing the work these men have been involved in. Together, they’ve created something I can’t wait to see again, and I suggest that you see Strays the minute it comes out. You won’t be sorry.

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