Shadows on the Wall

Fixed

dir Genndy Tartakovsky
prd Michelle Murdocca
scr Genndy Tartakovsky, Jon Vitti
voices Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, Bobby Moynihan, Michelle Buteau, River Gallo, Scott Weil, Aaron LaPlante, Julie Nathanson, Michelle Ruff
release US/UK 15.Aug.25
25/US Sony 1h25

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With its rude premise and ribald language, this hand-drawn animated comedy is aimed specifically at grown-up audiences who enjoy giggling at scatological humour. As the title suggests, filmmaker Genndy Tartakovsky (Hotel Transylvania) is encouraging us to laugh at canine castration. And while much of the humour has a dopey stoner vibe, the film also offers sparky characters and an enjoyably askance approach that creates some surprisingly witty gags.

Rambunctious family mutt Bull (Devine) has a crush on preening pedigreed Honey (Hahn) next door. She likes him too, even though she's intended for fellow champ Sterling (Beckett). But Bull's neighbourhood pack (Elba, Armisen and Moynihan) have been neutered, and he discovers he's next up for the snip. Refusing to submit to "senseless mutilation", Bull makes a break for freedom, accompanied on an odyssey into the big city by his pals, who encourage him to use his giblets before he loses them. So they head to the dog show to find Honey. And chaos ensues.

All of the neighbourhood pooches enjoy their walks to the dog park, where they chase toys, sniff each other's bums and discuss canine philosophy. Each of Bull's cohorts have amusingly goofy personalities that the voice actors can have some fun with as these dogs get up to all kinds of antics. Meanwhile, humans are heard but not quite seen. Even as these pups have anthropomorphised human characteristics, everything is viewed through a dog's eye view, with allows the filmmakers to get away with a lot of dirty silliness.

This madcap night on the town plays out in a stream of wacky set-pieces, including a freak-out encounter with a bunch of menacingly meowing alleycats, some bloodthirsty squirrel hunting and a visit to an outrageously sexed-up after-hours canine club, where Bull is seduced by the tantalising Molasses (Bluteau). This is where the story gets oddly moralistic, with Honey's jealous reaction. Much bolder and more provocative is the introduction of intersex pooch Frankie (Gallo).

Along the way there are hilarious observations about a range of topics including miniature handbag pups and dog fixations, although Honey observes that "humans are just as obsessed with sex as we are". Honey also faces the harsh expectations of fitting into a mould to become the best in show, realising that being different is so much better. Indeed, Bull is a one-of-a-kind dog who isn't defined by his genitalia. This message may be muddled, but it's enjoyable while it lasts.

themes, language, violence, sexuality 11.Aug.25

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