The irreverent adult comedy has come and gone in recent years, with Ted, the talking teddy bear, the last R-rated comedy about an animated creature to really hit the mainstream. But writer and producer Dan Perrault, known for his hilarious Netflix docuseries American Vandal, and director Josh Greenbaum, make a notable addition to the genre with Strays, a funny comedy about four of man’s best friends with mouths dirtier than a stoner’s room on a crazed adventure.
Reggie (Will Ferrell) is a cute and happy-go-lucky border terrier being left behind and abused by his owner Doug (Will Forte) after a brutal breakup. He hates Reggie interrupting his life and regularly dumps him on the side of the street, but Reggie always finds his way home. But finally, Doug shakes him off and Reggie meets the king of the strays Bug (Jamie Foxx) and his friends Maggie (Isla Fisher) and Hunter (Randall Park).
Soon Reggie learns that he was been abandoned and begins to see the benefits of being a stray and feels empowered outside the limitations of just being a household pet. He then decides to enact revenge and his new friends join him on this adventure, as they learn about themselves and the reality of being a dog in the society in which we live.
It’s an absolutely outrageous film, filled with crude comedy and swearing that solidly underlines the key message throughout. At any moment, the script is wildly funny but always searingly sentimental. The ending, as expected, is shocking and brilliant in its execution. But it’s a wild journey and one worth watching.
Eden Caceda 