Reggie the dog (voiced by Will Ferrell) loves his owner Doug (Will Forte), but Doug doesn’t reciprocate. Doug consistently tries to get rid of Reggie, but the loyal Border Terrier always finds his way home. When Doug abandons him in the big city, Reggie initially believes it’s all a game. Later he meets a stray Boston Terrier named Bug (Jamie Fox), who helps him see the reality of his situation. Hurt by the realization, Reggie announces plans to find his way home, where he will bite Doug’s penis off. Bug and two new friends—an Australian Shepard named Maggie (Isla Fisher) and a Great Dane named Hunter (Randall Park)—make the trip with him.
While Strays is admittedly a one joke picture, it works for a time, providing several laughs. Things get a bit predictable by the second half, going over likely territory concerning jokes about typical dog behavior like sniffing butts and humping everything in sight. Unapologetically, Strays aims for the lowest common densometer whenever possible. It doesn’t take a lot of creativity to make jokes about dogs peeing all over the place.
Given the talented voice cast involved, the lack of originality is surprising. In addition to Foxx, Ferrell, Fisher, Forte and Park, Josh Gad, Sofia Vergara, Rob Riggle, and more, are sadly underused. It really feels like a cast like that should create more humorous moments than they do.
The pups involved are cute. But lack any real substance. While worth a watch for those who enjoy crude humor, Strays will likely be quickly forgotten.
Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the film offers a strong visual experience. Overall definition is strong, with only a couple of brief moments of softness. There are no apparent print flaws and appeared clean. The color palette leans to teal and amber appearing appropriate throughout. Blacks are inky and shadows offer fine delineation.
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track serves the film well. While not bombastic, ambient sounds are central to everything. Action oriented scenes offer some heft, resulting in a nice level of involvement. A highlight is a bit with fireworks from a dog’s perspective delivers a dynamic moment. Directional dialogue shines, offering a clean, clear and concise experience.
English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles are available.
The following extras are included:
- Audio Commentary with Director Josh Greenbaum and Screenwriter Dan Perault
- Talk Like a Dog (HD, 7:10) A look at the characters and performances with interviews with various members of the cast and crew.
- The Ultimate Treat (HD, 6:34) A brief examination of the story, casting and the process of working with animals.
- Poop, Booms and Shrooms (HD, 6:41) Members of the cast and crew discuss some of the more disgusting scenes.
- Stray Actor (HD, 5:57) A discussion about Will Forte and his performance.
- Training to Be Stray (HD, 5:30) A discussion of the animal actors and their time on set.
- A New Best Friend (HD, 3:36) Again, a brief look at the animal actors.
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