Strays, which opens in theaters on Friday, is not geared to children despite its cuddly stars. Billed as a "subversion of the dog movies we know and love," the comedy is rated R for "pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and drug use."
Parents need to know that Strays is a lowbrow comedy that may be about talking dogs and feature Will Ferrell as an adorable pup named Reggie but is definitely not for kids. Reggie is treated terribly by his human owner, and some of the movie's laughs come from contrasting Reggie's trusting point-of…
"Strays" is a reminder of why parental controls exist for digital devices. At first glance, you'd assume this talking-dog live-action flick — appropriately scampering into theaters in the dog days of the summer movie season — is a kid-friendly adventure.
“Strays” is definitely a treat, especially for dog lovers who will howl with laughter and also cry at its empathetic understanding that we all, furry or otherwise, just want to be loved.
Wikipedia describes The Strays as a British "horror" film. I would not classify it anywhere close to horror unless you accept the hallucinations of the main character and her possible "mental illness" as real. The Strays really is an attempt at social commentary by way of revenge fantasy (a la Quentin Tarantino).
The shocking ending of The Strays exposes Neve's deceit and abandonment of her estranged children, painting her as the villain and showing the cyclical nature of trauma. Neve's departure at the end signifies the collapse of her idealized life and the beginning of a new cycle of trauma for her children.
Cumulatively, the f-words and s-words alone add up to at least 260 instances. That's nearly three every minute in this 93-minute film—and that doesn't even count any of the other vulgarities. Sure, Strays has a few funny jokes about dog behavior that don't rely on references to genitals, poop or drugs.
The MPAA rating has been assigned for “sequences of action and violence, language, and some suggestive references.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes a couple of kissing scenes and implied arousal, a few scenes of a young man testing his newfound superpowers, many scenes of people with superpowers fighting and ...
“Strays” is pretty much a one-joke movie, one last romp at the end of summer. But it finds enough ways into that joke within its perfectly pithy running time to remain zippy and enjoyable. The way it upends heartwarming dog adventure movie tropes is often hilariously inspired.
There's no blood or gruesome imagery. The gameplay and puzzles can potentially be frustrating. There's some light hints in-game (via the robot/drone companion), but you're often left to figure things out on your own.
Restricted: R - Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.
Sorry, but they can't come in. Earning an instant R-rating in the States – and a 15 certificate in the UK – we've already been warned this adult comedy will feature 'pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and drug use'.
After a fast-talking terrier (Jamie Foxx) shows a naïve pup (Will Ferrell) that his beloved owner (Will Forte) is a dirtbag, the dogs embark on an epic adventure for revenge. Rentals include 30 days to start watching this video and 48 hours to finish once started.
Told from a constantly shifting perspective, The Strays eventually reveals the true identity of the pair: They're Carl and Dione, Neve's children from her abusive relationship who were left behind with their aunt 20 years ago.
Director Josh Greenbaum used real dogs instead of CGI canines for a more authentic feel, with 95% of the movie featuring real animals. "Strays" performed well with fans, earning a "B+" CinemaScore and a 73% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, despite mixed reviews from critics.
Viewers have been raving about how scary the film is. One wrote: "Just finished watching The Strays on Netflix and I think I'm scarred for life, because what the hell did I just watch?" Another added: "If you're trying to sleep well tonight, don't watch The Strays right before bed."
Reggie learns that he is worthy of love without Doug and that it's better to matter to himself than to someone who didn't want him. The PFFs (Reggie's furry friends) become Reggie's chosen family, providing friendship and love when his owner disappoints him, and Reggie ultimately chooses to remain a stray.
Strays is an R-rated movie with language, sexual content, and drug use, making it inappropriate for children. The movie pushes the boundaries of humor with adult-focused jokes and crude language, including sexual references made by the dogs.
