--- title: "The Secret Life of Pets 2: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2" critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019): what the critics said Critics' score 56 from 12 reviews: 2 positive, 7 mixed, 3 negative. The reviews lean towards a mixed response: most critics find some charm in the pet antics, but enthusiasm for the sequel is limited. Praise centres on affectionate observations of animal behaviour, slapstick and comic voice performances, with Chloe a particular source of laughs. The animation earns some approval for its springy energy, and several critics find the film most entertaining when it keeps things sweet and silly. The recurring complaint is that the separate adventures never form a satisfying story, leaving the film scattered, slight and overly familiar. The circus subplot draws criticism, while reactions to the treatment of anxiety and family are sharply divided. Variety is notably warmer, finding greater emotional depth than in the original and an empathetic view of overprotective parenting. The Wrap takes the harshest position, condemning the film’s family values as regressive and its treatment of vulnerability as shaming. ## Variety — Courtney Howard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2019. Howard finds the sequel stronger and more emotionally resonant than its predecessor, despite its unevenly connected storylines. She particularly praises its empathetic portrayal of overprotective parenting and the reassurance it offers parents. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review-1203223211/) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating B-. 23 May 2019. Erbland finds the sequel charming and funny, but less delightful and less coherent than the original. She praises Lake Bell’s comic performance as Chloe and the film’s imaginative take on pets’ hidden lives. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review-sequel-1202143849/) ## Empire — Olly Richards Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2019. Richards finds the sequel pleasantly entertaining, though its scattered stories feel less necessary and memorable than the original. He singles out its appealing, springy animation and says it works best when sweet and silly. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/secret-life-pets-2-review/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2019. The URL identifies this as a review of the 2019 film, but the page could not be accessed. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint are therefore unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/movies/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2019. Walsh finds the sequel entertaining but formulaic, delivering familiar pet antics without much beyond the original. She praises the humorous, affectionate depictions of animal quirks, while criticizing its handling of anxiety and its dated circus subplot. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-secret-life-pets-2-sequel-review-20190605-story.html) ## Radio Times — Victoria Luxford Rating 3/5. Luxford finds the sequel entertaining, though it feels more like a series of skits than a flowing story. She praises its slapstick and knowing gags. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-2do5xg/the-secret-life-of-pets-2/) ## The Guardian — Simran Hans Rating 3/5. 26 May 2019. Hans finds the sequel charming but so-so, with laughs thinner than in the original. She praises Chloe’s lesson in disguise as the funniest sequence, while finding the white-tiger circus adventure too much of a stretch. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/may/26/secret-life-of-pets-2-review-expansive-animated-sequel) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating C. 28 May 2019. Hassenger finds the sequel disjointed and ultimately too slight to sustain its feature-length running time. He praises the goofy charm and expressive voice work in the Gidget and Snowball subplots. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-mini-adventures-of-secret-life-of-pets-2-belong-on-1835059058) ## Screen Daily — Stephen Whitty Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 27 May 2019. Whitty finds the sequel uneven, balancing sweetness against overcrowding. He singles out how the tale wags the dog as a central complaint. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-review/5139767.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Michael Rechtshaffen Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 23 May 2019. The critic finds the sequel genially amusing but undernourished, with familiar storytelling that offers little beyond the first film. Harrison Ford’s gruff farm dog steals the show, while the script and animation are faulted for playing it safe. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/secret-life-pets-2-review-1213155/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 4/10. 5 June 2019. Spiegel finds the sequel slight, scattered, and largely inconsequential. He singles out its three disconnected storylines and shallow character work as weaknesses, while noting its short runtime as a saving grace. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/566871/secret-life-of-pets-2-review/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 15/100 (inferred from the text). 5 June 2019. The critic strongly condemns the film as a regressive, uninteresting movie. They single out its conservative ideas about family and its shaming of vulnerability as especially troubling. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-secret-life-of-pets-2-film-review-patton-oswalt-harrison-ford/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-secret-life-of-pets-2.md