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    Movie Review

    Dogs get hilariously filthy in over-the-top comedy Strays

    Alex Bentley
    Aug 16, 2023 | 1:44 pm

    When dogs are at the center of a movie, there are typically one of four ways the story will go. It’ll either be cute, inspirational, sad, or horrific. What’s rarely, if ever, been tried is to make a comedy about dogs that’s absolutely filthy, which is the case with the bonkers new R-rated film, Strays.

    Reggie (Will Ferrell), Maggie (Isla Fisher), Hunter (Randall Park), and Bug (Jamie Foxx) in Strays
      

    Photo by Chuck Zlotnick / Universal Pictures

    Reggie (Will Ferrell), Maggie (Isla Fisher), Hunter (Randall Park), and Bug (Jamie Foxx) in Strays.

    The movie doesn’t tiptoe around its intentions, as it dives right in to Reggie’s (voice of Will Ferrell) dysfunctional relationship with his reluctant owner, Doug (Will Forte). Doug, stuck with Reggie after a breakup, treats Reggie like absolute garbage, although Reggie doesn’t see that way. He views all the mistreatment as a fun game, including the times when Doug takes him far from home, throws a ball for him to chase, and then speeds away.

    On one such “adventure,” Reggie finds himself stuck in the unfamiliar surroundings of a city, and soon meets up with other stray dogs, including Bug (Jamie Foxx), Maggie (Isla Fisher), and Hunter (Randall Park). The others do their best to make Reggie understand what a bad owner Doug actually is, eventually coming up with a plan for revenge that’s grotesque yet hilarious.

    Directed by Josh Greenbaum and written by Dan Perrault, the film is a hard juxtaposition of the cuteness of the dogs and the profane way in which they talk to each other. Just imagine any dirty behavior that a typical dog does, and then imagine it amplified by 10, and you’ll get a good idea of what the film has to offer. Sniffing butts and humping legs is the least of it.

    Those who don’t know going in that it’s an outrageous comedy will be in for quite the rude awakening. The film seems to get away with a lot simply because of the fact that dogs are the source of most of the irreverent dialogue and actions. If the same things were tried with humans, it wouldn’t work, but there’s just something about seeing dogs do them that never fails to be entertaining. A jailbreak scene in third act will likely be the source of Internet fodder for years to come.

    For a while, it appears as if the filmmakers will just be using the actors to voice the dogs’ inner thoughts, but then they use CGI to make the dogs’ mouths move, which isn’t always successful. Actual dogs were used in filming, and they turn out to be very believable as actors, no matter they’re asked to do. However, seeing them talk never quite feels right, even if it’s not a fatal decision.

    Ferrell is the absolute perfect voice for Reggie, as – much as he did in Elf – he’s able to give him an innocence that makes his discoveries about the world that much funnier. Foxx is a great complement to him, dialing up righteous indignation that fits the story well. Fisher and Park are also fantastic, as is Forte, who really knows how to play a scumbag.

    Strays has one thing on its mind – being as over-the-top as possible – and it succeeds mightily in putting that on screen. The dogs in the film are as appealing in looks as they are disgusting in their behavior, a combination that makes for a very funny time at the movies.

    ---

    Strays opens in theaters on August 18.

    moviesfilm
    news/entertainment

    This week's hot headlines

    North Dallas neighbor named best city for renters in week's top stories

    CultureMap Staff
    Jul 26, 2025 | 10:00 am
    McKinney skyline
    Facebook/Visit McKinney
    McKinney is booming.

    Editor's note: This week's most-read Dallas headlines included a new report on the best city for renters, an exciting new steakhouse, a construction park developed with Dude Perfect, and more. Read on to see what you missed. Still need weekend plans? Here's some help.

    1. Booming North Dallas neighbor named best U.S. city for renters in 2025. A Dallas-area city is the place to be for renters: According to a report from apartment search website RentCafe, McKinney has earned the title as the No. 1 best U.S. city for renters in 2025.

    2. Dallas chef to open steakhouse in ex-Nick & Sam's near Preston Center. A steakhouse inspired by the open-fire grills of Latin America is coming to north Dallas: Called Casa Brasa, it’ll take over the former Nick & Sam’s at 8111 Preston Rd., in Preston Commons, a block south of Preston Center, at Centenary Road.

     Casa Brasa Casa Brasa, coming to Preston Road.  Courtesy rendering  

    3. Construction theme park developed with Dude Perfect digs into Grapevine. A new kind of entertainment experience is bulldozing into Grapevine: Called Dig World, it's a construction-themed adventure park that will open at 2200 W. Grapevine Mills Cir. at Grapevine Mills.

    4. Jakes Burgers returns to East Dallas with location on Greenville Ave. An iconic burger is coming to Dallas' Greenville Avenue: Jakes Burgers and Beer, the Dallas-based chain featuring burgers, fries, and beer, is opening a location at 4925 Greenville Ave., at the Energy Square development.

    5. Early days of pandemic become a powder keg in tense movie Eddington. Even though a number of productions have attempted to show what life was like during the early days of the pandemic, few have tried to truly reckon with the way lockdowns and restrictions changed people. Filmmaker provocateur Ari Aster does just that in Eddington.

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