Vagabonds

If some unwitting parent takes their child on a Strays thinking they’ll get another A Dog’s Purpose (which, by the way, this film refers to more than once), they will no doubt have an unpleasant epiphany. Josh Greenbaum's film is one hell of a sharp comedy. Strays doesn't pull any punches and sprinkles the viewer with one more or less hilarious line after another, but at the same time it doesn’t forget to be didactic, so there are a few life wisdoms hidden in the plethora of profanities. The icing on this inappropriate, perverse cake, on which instead of candles there were phallic expressions fluttering in a hundred ways, was the the scene with “Wrecking Ball”. (28/08/2023)

A vulgar and original summer ride that has pleasantly revived an almost dead comedy genre, as comedies are even worse than horror movies. Anyone who liked Ted and liked the trailers, for example, will not be offended by Strays. It's an original look at the wild adventures of dogs that can't do without sex, foul language, weasels, shit and a whole lot more. The four main canine characters are very likable and each has their own comedic timing (the Boston Terrier rocks the most though, dropping one crazy line after another). The plot is nothing special, but it doesn't matter. There is plenty of humour, there is plenty of room for laughter, I was surprised by unexpectedly touching moments that had the power to bring tears to the corners of my eyes. It is of course also educational, I enjoyed the allusions to famous dog movies and I liked the details of dog life that are nicely used here (the scene with firecrackers is an unexpected thriller!). There hasn't been a better American-produced comedy in a couple of years (it doesn't have the chops of the French, especially the Lacheau crew, but it's still an excellent addition with the potential to be a cult classic). One of those films you'll be happy to watch again with friends. 85%. (21/08/2023)

Regie the dog has just been abandoned by his owner and he finds himself alone in the big city. Fortunately, he stumbles upon other stray dogs and sets out with them on a journey of revenge. Strays is a very simple comedy that stands and falls on harsh jokes, creative use of profanity and slapstick. Simple bollocks, but if you don't mind rougher humor, you'll have a good time for that hour and a half. (16/08/2023)

When it comes to crude humor, I believe that less is more, a concept apparently lost on the creators of this movie. Surprisingly, even though I'm not a fan of movies involving animals (they tend to overly tug at my heartstrings), this one was pretty decent. Even the swearing wasn't a major issue; the screenwriter was obviously catering to a certain type of audience, so logic took a backseat to a steady supply of chocolate truffles. Anyway, it still made for a fun watch. / Lesson learned: What you pee on is yours. (07/01/2024)