THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS

(2016) A talented voice cast, well-developed characters, and beautiful animation (truly, New York City looks amazing here) from Illumination Entertainment (aka Minion-land) make The Secret Life of Pets both incredible to look at and genuinely funny in the telling.  Max (Louis C.K.) is a terrier living the high life with his single female owner in a Manhattan apartment; every day when she and other pet owners in his and neighboring buildings leave for work, Max and his various friends carry on with their own day - whether it be running the house their way, partying, or just hanging out before waiting for their owners to come home again.  But when Max's human suddenly comes home one evening with a stray dog - the huge, shaggy, bear-like Duke (Eric Stonestreet), Max sees green and plots a way to get rid of the big guy ... which backfires, thrusting Max and Duke lost and alone in New York, far from home and at the mercy of a street gang of animals out for revenge, led by the sociopathic - yet oh-so cuddly and adorable! - white psycho-bunny, Snowball (Kevin Hart).  Illumination really hits most of the marks with this one, each of the animal characters coming off with distinct and likable personalities, and the humor is terrific; I caught myself laughing out loud through the second half of the film, especially.  Wonderful, hilarious film that may make you wonder what really goes on at home when you leave your own dog, cat or even parakeet alone for the day.  (rated PG)  8/10 stars