REVIEW — “Strays”

From producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, Strays is a hilariously raunchy, hard-R, dog movie parody that is pet-friendly, but definitely not kid friendly.

When good dog Border Terrier, Reggie (Will Ferrell) is ditched in the big city by his lousy human owner, Doug, he is taken under the paw of Bug (Jamie Foxx), a  foul-mouthed, street-smart Boston Terrier who convinces Reg that he is better off on his own.

Foxx and Ferrell make a dynamic doggy duo as their canine counterparts run through the streets enjoying the perks and freedom of being stray dogs. However, the film really gets growling when they pair up with Isla Fisher’s Australian Shepherd named Maggie and Randall Park’s Great Dane named Hunter.

The foursome quickly come to realize that Reggie was in an abusive relationship with his unloving owner and set out to get revenge by biting off Doug’s johnson. Homeward bound on an incredible journey, Reg and his new friends encounter insane adventures that include mushroom tripping, couch humping, vomit eating, and territory marking.

Their travels culminate with an insane sequence set to Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” In fact, the film, directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), is at the top of its game when it comes to on point needle drops, particularly Fergie’s “London Bridge” blasting during a scene featuring multiple doggie dumps.

To solidify the film as an R-rated spoof of A Dog’s Purpose, Strays includes a random Dennis Quaid cameo and Josh Gad as the narrating voice of a loyal Golden Retriever. Written by Dan Perrault, the film also features a supporting cast of reliable comedic actors such as Rob Riggle, Brett Gelman, Harvey Guillén, Jamie Demetriou, and Sofia Vergara.

Like Cocaine Bear before it, Strays is a wild sophomoric comedy with scenes and dialogue played largely for shock value. The jokes are frequently over-the-top, sometimes cringey, and may wear thin, but it’s what you can expect from a Lord Miller joint. While it’s not on par with their other quotable and rewatchable raunch-comedy classics, Strays stays loyal to its premise and will keep you howling throughout its brisk runtime. 3/5

Rated R with a running time of 1 hour and 33  minutes, Strays opens in theaters on August 18, 2023.