In the same spirit as films like Good Boys, Universal and director Josh Greenbaum deliver one of the most surprising and enjoyable comedies of the summer with Strays – a vulgar spin on “family-friendly dog movies.”

The film follows Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell) – a good-hearted dog who lives under the cruel rule of his horrid owner Doug (Will Forte). Although Reggie believes that Doug loves him unconditionally, Doug constantly mistreats him and tries to abandon him every chance he gets. Doug’s latest attempt to get rid of Reggie sees him travel to mean city streets where Reggie runs into a stray dog named Bug (voiced by Jamie Foxx). After Bug shows him the ropes of his new lifestyle, Reggie comes to realize that Doug isn’t coming back for him and decides to get revenge. With the help of Bug and his other dog friends – Hunter (voiced by Randall Park) and Maggie (voiced by Isla Fisher) – Reggie embarks on a revenge journey back to Doug so that he can bite his dick off.

The agenda and central charm of Strays is clear from the start – turn something that’s usually heartwarming and safe into something raunchy and wild. In that regard, the film undeniably succeeds through its foul-mouthed strays and everything they encounter in their journey. It’s instantly hilarious to see these adorable canines curse up a storm in nearly every scene – especially Bug – and be unabashed in dealing with the same sexual antics and thoughts you’d see in adult comedies. The film even throws in some comedic sequences that audiences would find in stoner or road trip comedies. Despite it having some formulaic and familiar genre elements with its story and comedy, Strays manages to keep its comedy fresh – largely thanks to its great voice cast.

Ferrell and Foxx are an unexpected treat together with how they depict the contrasting personalities of Reggie and Bug, respectively. Reggie’s sense of innocence is a classic Ferrell performance at its finest and it’s hilarious to see him be so clueless and overly positive about the world around him. While Foxx makes Bug’s rough and tough surface incredibly fun – especially when the rug is totally pulled out from under him. He acts as a hardened force for the team but has his own vulnerabilities and fears that make him hilariously susceptible to danger. The rest of the cast plays their roles well and add their own flavor to the raunchy and adult-centric comedy of Strays.

The film’s comedy is at its best though when it’s putting its twisted spin on a typically heartwarming genre. Strays uses the perspective of its dog protagonists perfectly to create hilarious sequences that audiences will love. The film constantly fleshes out known aspects of dogs by putting a raunchy or crude spin on it to make audiences roar with laughter. From a gut-busting revolution against animal control to how the dogs spend a night out on the town, there are tons of funny moments seen throughout Strays. Plus, it’s hard not to love some of the cameos and nods that poke fun at the “dog movie” genre. Admittedly, the film’s crude comedic approach can lose steam at times or feel like it’s beating audiences over the head with the same types of jokes. However, there’s enough variety to the obstacles the group comes across and good pacing to keep audiences invested and engaged with the film’s hilarity – especially in its surprisingly gruesome revenge-filled finale.

What’s most surprising about Strays though is actually the heart it presents through its characters and their arcs. Doug’s behavior towards Reggie will immediately impact audiences – especially dog lovers – and put them in Reggie’s corner as he goes on this journey of vengeance. Because of how likeable the dog protagonists are, viewers will be instantly invested in their stories and some of the personal aspects of their motivations. It’s honestly great how Strays builds in themes surrounding toxic relationships and self-empowerment with Reggie’s arc as they boast some strong relatability. People could really connect with Reggie’s story in Strays and it’s simple enough to get people thinking. Even Bug’s personal arc has some good power and emotion to it and emphasizes how good Strays is at getting human viewers to see and understand the perspectives of their furry friends. There’s some great emotion to Strays that shouldn’t be ignored and I’d be lying if I said that it doesn’t do a good job tugging at your heartstrings. 

Strays is much better than most would likely expect it to be. Its cast and adult-centric approach make it a hilarious ride that’s elevated by the depictions of its characters and the surprising heart it has. Whether you’re a dog lover or not, Strays has something for everyone making it an easy to love R-rated comedy worthy of closing out the summer with.

Watch the Trailer Here: