Movie Reviews: Secret Life of Pets, Wiener-Dog, Mike and Dave, Music of Strangers | Buzz Blog

Friday, July 8, 2016

Movie Reviews: Secret Life of Pets, Wiener-Dog, Mike and Dave, Music of Strangers

Posted By on July 8, 2016, 8:01 AM

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One raunchy comedy, one earnest documentary and two very different dog stories hit Utah theaters this weekend.

The animated comedy The Secret Lives of Pets  (pictured) loses its solid jokes and lively pacing in a story that's thoroughly ripped off from the Toy Story movies. The pitch-black sensibility of Todd Solondz adds just enough sweetness to the bleak vignettes of Wiener-Dog. Director Morgan Neville—like his subject, Yo-Yo Ma—attempts to blend many different voices into harmony in The Music of Strangers, and mostly succeeds in a story of cultures both shared and preserved.

In this week's feature review, Hollywood's predictable need to push the envelope in every R-rated comedy infects the terrific concept (and sporadic hilarity) of Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.

About The Author

Scott Renshaw

Scott Renshaw

Bio:
Scott Renshaw has been a City Weekly staff member since 1999, including assuming the role of primary film critic in 2001 and Arts & Entertainment Editor in 2003. Scott has covered the Sundance Film Festival for 25 years, and provided coverage of local arts including theater, pop-culture conventions, comedy,... more

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