movie review strays

Full disclosure, right off the top: I knew I was going to be a soft touch on "Strays."

We're a longtime Boston Terrier family, and I've always wondered what our dogs would sound like if they could talk to us. (Surely, I'm not the only one who entertains such insane ideas.) So the prospect of an R-rated comedy in which Jamie Foxx provides the voice of a street-smart Boston named Bug—who drops copious F-bombs, gets high on mushrooms, and humps discarded couches—was very exciting.

"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. And there's great chemistry within the voice cast, particularly between Foxx and star Will Ferrell , who had the unusual benefit of recording together.

Director Josh Greenbaum has shown a flair for out-there comedy with a sweetness at its core in the delightfully bizarre " Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar " (2021). He achieves a similar balance with raunchier material in "Strays." Besides featuring a ton of profanity, the screenplay from Dan Perrault includes plenty of poop and pee jokes (not all of which are entirely puerile), vigorous humping, and some wilderness mayhem that some may find shocking. But the film also explores the importance of identifying and escaping toxic relationships, achieving a sense of self-worth, and basking in the support of deep and unexpected friendships.

I may have teared up a few times. Like I said at the start, a soft touch. Your mileage may vary on this canine road trip.

"Strays" begins on an upbeat note with narration from Ferrell as Reggie, an adorably scruffy Border terrier who's clueless to the fact that his miserable, abusive owner ( Will Forte ) hates him and keeps trying to abandon him. "Today is going to be the best day ever!" he intones in a sunny manner reminiscent of Margot Robbie 's optimism at the start of " Barbie ." And totally coincidentally, "Strays" shares a similar structure to Greta Gerwig 's mega-blockbuster: Idealistic character leaves home, goes to the "real world," makes friends, and learns hard truths before returning to fix things with the newfound knowledge. Only in this case, the protagonist's purpose is literally to bite off his owner's penis, a more violent form of eviscerating the patriarchy than Barbie ever could imagine. Ferrell is essentially doing a version of his character in " Elf " here, mixing wide-eyed enthusiasm with deadpan observations and bringing his signature sincerity to a silly role. As always, he's a hoot.

After his owner dumps him in a faraway city, Reggie gets help in his quest from the trash-talking Bug, who insists he wants to be a stray and navigates the world with the swagger of a little dog who thinks he's big. Foxx has fantastic energy here, savoring the musicality of his character's every profane tirade. Along for the trip are the Australian shepherd Maggie ( Isla Fisher ), a gifted sniffer, and a Great Dane named Hunter ( Randall Park ), a former police K-9 who now works as a therapy dog for the elderly.

Cursing and calamitous antics ensue, much of which you've probably already seen in the trailer, but thankfully there are plenty of surprises in store. The visual effects work is mostly seamless, with all of the dogs (and their unseen trainers) giving impressive physical performances. Some of the CGI in the face and mouth movements are distractingly jumpy and inconsistent, especially regarding Bug's dialogue. Is it too much to ask for total realism in a late-summer talking dog movie?  

The gross-out gags may grow a bit repetitive, but "Strays" ultimately redeems itself by ending on a note that's feel-good without being cloying. It features some amusing insights into how dogs perceive the world, from fireworks to postal workers. And it just might make you think twice about what that pampered Pomeranian in the expensive sweater is barking about at the dog park.

Now playing in theaters. 

Christy Lemire

Christy Lemire is a longtime film critic who has written for RogerEbert.com since 2013. Before that, she was the film critic for The Associated Press for nearly 15 years and co-hosted the public television series "Ebert Presents At the Movies" opposite Ignatiy Vishnevetsky, with Roger Ebert serving as managing editor. Read her answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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‘Strays’ Review: A Raunchy Comedy Goes to the Dogs

Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx voice two canines on a quest for revenge in this crude live-action feature.

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By Glenn Kenny

The King James Bible is loaded with memorable analogies, and one of the most vivid is from Proverbs: “As a dog returneth to its vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” It’s true — a dog will do that. A dog might also sample the vomit of another dog, as is depicted in one of the many intestinal, fecal and urinal gags served up in the relentlessly raunchy comedy “Strays.”

Directed by Josh Greenbaum from a script by Dan Perrault, “Strays” tells the story of Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell), a winsome Border terrier who is abandoned by his owner, the miserable, porn-addict stoner Doug (Will Forte).

Alone in an alley, Reggie gets the come-on from some sexy Afghan hounds. How does prostitution work in unsupervised dog society? It is never explained, just as it’s never explained why the animals speak to each other in English while not understanding the English spoken by the humans. The movie uses a mix of live action and computer animation, but world-building was not quite a priority here.

Once Reggie meets the street-smart Boston terrier Bug (Jamie Foxx) and realizes the extent to which Doug hated him, he resolves to find the man and bite off one of his most beloved extremities. In this quest, the new friends are joined by two domesticated dogs: Hunter (Randall Park), a timid Great Dane, and Maggie (Isla Fisher), an elegant but earthy Australian Shepherd.

Over the next 90-plus minutes, the canines drop as many F-bombs as Pacino did in “Scarface.” Then there are the scatological jokes, each one more outlandish than the last, none bearing the slightest tinge of wit or joy. (The thing about John Waters’s extreme underground comedies is that they had, you know, enthusiasm.) Granted, a scene here that takes aim at the convention of the “narrator dog” does produce a curdled laugh, but it does so on its way to a truly nihilistic punchline.

And yet as that proverb warns, one unfortunately can’t rule out a sequel.

Strays Rated R for relentless language, crude humor and gore. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. In theaters.

An earlier version of this review misstated a type of dog in “Strays.” Reggie is a Border terrier, not a mutt. The error was repeated in a picture caption.

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An abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner. An abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner. An abandoned dog teams up with other strays to get revenge on his former owner.

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• Trivia (at around 1 min) The puppy playing Young Reggie was adopted by director Josh Greenbaum .
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Reggie : Why is Doug so great? Where do I begin? He loves being around me so much, he doesn't even have a job.

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Review: Off the chain and ready to sniff you up, ‘Strays’ is, at root, a typical tail of vengeance

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What to make of “Strays,” a proudly raunchy, decidedly R-rated comedy about a pack of stray dogs on a brash journey of revenge against one’s abusive owner? As the film’s widely seen red-band trailer makes clear, it’s a live-action talking-dog picture definitely not for kids. But is it compelling enough to fetch older audiences, even the staunchest pup lovers?

Take out its wall-to-wall F-bombs, envelope-pushing scatological humor and often gross and, in one key case, deeply disturbing visuals, and you’re pretty much left with an amusing if rote story of well-meaning animals learning lessons on the road. Think “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey” or the more recent “A Dog’s Way Home” but with the furry main characters having their way with couches and garden art, tripping on magic mushrooms, and spouting poop and penis jokes.

Directed by Josh Greenbaum ( “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” ), written by Dan Perrault (Netflix’s “American Vandal” ) and deftly voiced by a cast of comic pros, the film finds an unflaggingly upbeat, 2-year-old border terrier named Reggie (Will Ferrell, in “Elf” mode ) abandoned by his dirtbag dog-dad, Doug ( Will Forte ), on some mean city streets three hours from their ramshackle home. Doug always detested Reggie and only ended up the owner of the sweet pup to spite his ex-girlfriend, who loved the dog but learned to hate the two-timing Doug.

No number of pushy laughs here can make Doug’s mistreatment of Reggie seem anything less than appalling, even if — or especially because — the pooch misguidedly believes his owner adores him, and that Doug’s efforts to lose him are just a fun game. Many of the dog’s-eye-view observations here are droll and relatable, but this isn’t one of them; it’s just sad.

Once left on his own, Reggie quickly falls in with Bug ( Jamie Foxx ), a tough, potty-mouthed Boston terrier with a fierce independent streak and strict set of rules that doesn’t include humans. Reggie and Bug are the classic odd couple, and it doesn’t take a psychic to predict these two fast friends will change (and maybe even save) each other’s lives by journey’s end. It’s a satisfying relationship to watch unfold and one of the film’s better elements.

With the added help of Bug’s stray pals — Hunter ( Randall Park ), an anxious, neck-cone-wearing Great Dane, and Maggie ( Isla Fisher ), a smart Australian shepherd with a super sense of smell — Reggie begins to see how Doug is nothing but a cruel, pet-loathing lowlife. The pack then bands together to find its way back to Doug’s house, where Reggie will punish his ex-owner by chomping off his beloved genitals. If you don’t find this prospect even remotely funny or tolerable, this isn’t the flick for you.

En route, we’re treated to a hit-or-miss barrage of comedic bits involving a pizza-and-beer blowout, crazy-making fireworks, a rapacious eagle, a four-way urination ritual, a smeary dog-pound escape, an unfortunate (and frankly disturbing) rabbit incident and much else. There’s also plenty of goofy, no-holds-barred canine conversation (CGI was effectively used to animate the dogs’ mouths) about everything from territory-marking and why humans scoop up after their pups, to theories about the hounds’ not-so-private parts. A scene in which the dogs all frantically spin in circles before finding a suitable sleeping position should tickle any pooch parent.

Still, the swearing and gross-out humor loses its bite after a while. We’re left with an at times heartfelt and enjoyably observed story that may hold interest with more patient viewers but, due to some episodic scene work and slack pacing, leave others restless. And lest anyone think the movie’s randy-animals conceit is especially groundbreaking, more than 50 years ago came the hyper-bawdy counterculture classic “Fritz the Cat,” (“He’s X-rated and animated!” went the tagline).

Kudos to the “Strays” animal training team, led by Mark Forbes (“A Dog’s Purpose”), which clearly had its work cut out for it. And to the dogs themselves (voiced by Josh Gad, Harvey Guillén, Rob Riggle, Greta Lee and others), who are adorable and engaging even when they’re doing and saying the darnedest things — except during that climactic payback sequence at Doug’s. Beware.

'Strays'

Rating: R, for pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and drug use Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes. Playing: In general release.

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'Strays' review: Will Ferrell's hilarious dog movie puts raunchy spin on 'Homeward Bound'

Every so often when writing movie reviews by a pair of snuggly and often snoring Boston Terriers, one wonders what they’d say if given the opportunity – perhaps “I love you, now stop typing and throw that tennis ball.” The new talking-dog movie “Strays” explores that same idea and the results are hilarious, heartwarming and outrageously filthy.

Like “Homeward Bound” with masturbation jokes and randy squirrels, the wry and raunchy comedy (★★★ out of four; rated R; in theaters now ) stars Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx as a pair of canine besties on an epic journey with their woof pack to bite a man in his private parts.

There are running gags about the size of doggy genitalia, nonstop cursing, plus a psychedelic trip involving a couch named Dolores, and director Josh Greenbaum (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”) unleashes both unruly shenanigans and big-hearted feels without being obnoxious or cloying. 

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A Border Terrier named Reggie (voiced by Ferrell) lives in a rural small town with his cruel owner Doug (Will Forte), who blames the scruffy little guy for everything that’s gone wrong in his life. Naive and optimistic to a fault, Reggie love-love-loves Doug and every time his human tries to ditch him, he sees it as a game. But when Doug drops him in the big city and speeds away, Reggie begins to worry about not only getting home but surviving.

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He’s saved from a couple of huge canine bruisers by Bug (Foxx), a street-smart Boston who teaches Reggie the rules of being a stray: Pee on something if you want it, hump whatever you’d like, and enjoy the freedom of being on your own. Bug then introduces his new BFF to a couple of pals. Hunter the Great Dane (Randall Park) is an anxiety-ridden, cone-wearing therapy dog who washed out of K-9 police training, while Maggie (Isla Fisher), an Australian Shepherd with a gifted sniffer, is a house pet who resents a younger puppy getting all the love from her people.

With a new perspective and a fresh sense of anger, Reggie sets out to take revenge on Doug and his confidants come with him on a humorous Homeric odyssey, tussling with a hungry eagle, running afoul of animal control and munching some seriously funky mushrooms. 

Talking dog movies are a polarizing genre, mainly because chatty animals with moving mouths can be pretty weird. You get used to it fairly quickly here, though, as you fall for the lovable main characters. (While cute critter flicks are usually family-friendly, this one is decidedly not for kids.) Reggie is an adorably complex dude, Bug is the film’s chief scene-stealer, and Hunter and Maggie are loyal pals crushing on each other with a “Will they or won’t they?” sexual tension. In addition to using computer-generated animals, Greenbaum has real dogs playing the main characters so you’re much more invested in their quest than, say, the special-effects pooch of “The Call of the Wild.”

The screenplay by Dan Perrault (“American Vandal”) also tries to get into the mind of dogs in a really insightful way. Often it’s for a humorous bit like Bug’s twirly routine to lay down and take a nap, the gossipy goings-on at the local dog park, or one truly astounding display of feces. But there’s also a whole scene devoted to what goes through a canine mind when fireworks are going off that’s simply brilliant. Obviously, folks will come for pups dropping f-bombs and mad drug trips straight out of “21 Jump Street,” though it’s aspects like Bug’s profound backstory that put some real meat on the bone. 

“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. And after seeing it, a lick from your best friend means more than ever before.

New movies to see this weekend: Watch DC's 'Blue Beetle,' embrace dog movie 'Strays'

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‘Strays’ Review: Will Ferrell And Jamie Foxx In Scrappy, Raunchy, Sweet, R-Rated Talking-Dog Movie – What More Could You Want?

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From Lassie and Rin Tin Tin to 101 Dalmatians, Old Yeller, My Dog Skip, Homeward Bound, A Dog’s Purpose and on and on, the canine genre has been a staple of Hollywood movies for decades. I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone got the idea to make a balls-out, foul-mouthed, R-rated subversion of it all, and finally its time has come with the irresistible Strays , a film definitely not designed as a family movie or for kids — though I would bet, despite the language and nonstop dick jokes, they would love it anyway.

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When Bug finally convinces Reggie that Doug is a total ass, Reggie agrees to join the others on an incredible journey back to Doug’s so that Reg can bite off the guy’s penis. Yes, that is the plot, and along the way there are a number of outrageous sequences that are alternately hilarious, and even a bit harrowing. Poop and dick jokes are the order of the day, but these engaging canine stars make it all believable and highly entertaining to watch. Head animal trainer Mark Forbes leads a group of trainers to really deliver wonderful performances from their canine crew, and when the script calls for riskier scenes the VFX team led by Charlie Iturriaga brings it home with no harm to any animals and (PETA, take note) extreme safety measures in place at all times.

Writer Dan Perrault goes for the gutter in much of the dialogue and situations, but importantly he does not forget the heart of it all, and ultimately we are really rooting for these four-legged friends to find happiness and their forever homes. There isn’t a mean bone in Strays except for Forte’s disgusting Doug, and boy does he ever get his in the end (or should I say the front) . Director Josh Greenbaum and his production team pull it all off with technical expertise, a real feat since the dogs are the focus for all 93 minutes of this fast-moving comedy. Ferrell and Foxx are pitch perfect in their voice work, but Fisher and Park really are the scene stealers on the vocal side. You have to applaud Forte, a genuinely nice guy most of the time, for taking on such an evil guy, but he doesn’t hold back. We hate Doug. Brett Gelman as Willy, an animal control officer, also is appropriately pathetic. Josh Gad, Harvey Guillen, Jamie Demetriou and Sofia Vergara (as a couch for humping!) are other voices along the way, with a nice turn from Rob Riggle as Rolf, a German Shepherd police dog on the hunt for a missing girl scout. There is also a very brief cameo from a certain A Dog’s Purpose star that gets a big laugh.

Producers are Phil Lord, Chris Miller, Erik Feig, Aditya Sood, Louis Letterier and Perrault.

Title: Strays Release date: August 18, 2023 Distributor: Universal Pictures Director: Josh Greenbaum Screenwriter: Dan Perrault Cast: Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, Randall Park, Brett Gelman, Will Forte, Josh Gad, Harvey Guillen, Rob Riggle, Jamie Demetriou, Sofia Vergara Rating: R Running time: 1 hr 33 min

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‘strays’ review: will ferrell and jamie foxx lead voice cast in an amusingly dirty dog-com.

Isla Fisher, Randall Park and Josh Gad are among the other voice performers in this raunchy canine comedy from 'Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar' director Josh Greenbaum.

By Frank Scheck

Frank Scheck

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Strays offers everything a canine lover could possibly want: dogs peeing, dogs pooping, dogs humping, dogs puking, dogs talking dirty, dogs getting high, dogs…well, you get the idea.

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Until, that is, Reggie gets thoroughly lost in a big city, where he becomes friends with Bug (Foxx), a foul-mouthed Boston Terrier who quickly wises him up to Doug’s true nature.

Reggie is still determined to get back home, this time not for a joyful reunion but rather to bite off Doug’s favorite part of his anatomy, one to which he pays near constant attention (the sight of Forte shaving his nether regions is not easily forgotten). He’s joined in his quest by two other new acquaintances: Maggie ( Isla Fisher ), an Australian Shepherd with a killer nose for sniffing out scents; and Hunter ( Randall Park ), an anxiety-ridden Great Dane who works as a therapy dog in a hospice after flunking out of the canine police academy. Hunter wears a protective cone around his neck — not because he needs one, but because it makes him feel more at ease.

It’s no wonder the film’s poster features one of the dogs prominently holding an R-rating announcement in his mouth, since careless parents who bring their kids to see these adorable pups will have a lot of explaining to do to their traumatized children. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, though, since Strays also delivers a heartfelt message about the importance of loving our endlessly loyal canine pets. And not letting them eat wild mushrooms, as that would result in them getting stoned out of their minds, which happens here.

In case you’re wondering how the dogs appear to be talking, it’s with the same CGI animation that has made doggie lips move in many previous films, a visual effect that is as creepy as it is uncanny. And although there’s no small amount of other visual trickery in the film’s animal depictions (squirrels and eagles also appear), the real dog performers have clearly been extremely well trained in their paces, delivering the sort of complex, nuanced performances that should put many human thespians to shame. Director Josh Greenbaum ( Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar ) clearly has the patience of a saint.

Among the other vocal performers are Rob Riggle and Josh Gad as a pair of overzealous K-9 dogs and Sofia Vergara as a seductive couch. And if you have to ask how a couch can be seductive, you haven’t been around enough dogs. There’s also a fun cameo by a famous actor who’s starred in a couple of hit dog-themed movies himself.

If you’re wondering whether Reggie gets to complete his mission of revenge, suffice it to say that Forte proves himself a good sport and you’ll never hear Miley Cyrus’ hit song “Wrecking Ball” the same way again.  

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Strays Reviews

With such a riotously crude premise, you might not expect a particularly deep film, but there is some narrative weight here.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 18, 2024

Personally, I want these strays to go to a good home, if only so I don’t have to see them ever again.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Jul 12, 2024

Your enjoyment of gross-out, profanity laced humour will decide if this is a must watch or not, but despite there being ample ground to farm, the film feels all too happy to roll around in its dog filth.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 5, 2024

I laughed harder and more frequently than just about any movie this year.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Dec 4, 2023

More heartbreaking than funny...

Full Review | Nov 11, 2023

It’s fun, vulgar and represents one of those films meant to be enjoyed on multiple occasions late at night with beers and friends. There exist other things in life that are worse for you.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Oct 12, 2023

While Strays is categorized as a comedy, writer Dan Perrault (American Vandal) relies primarily on sex and toilet humor to bring on the laughs.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5 | Oct 10, 2023

Visually, director Josh Greenbaun doesn't offer anything surprising. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Oct 5, 2023

The idea behind the movie is as stimulating as it is absurd. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 2, 2023

If you like dog-poop gags, you are in for a treat. ... If dog poop makes you gag, you might want to pass on this one.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 23, 2023

I might have liked it more if I saw it when I was thirteen - although many of the movies I saw back then STILL make me laugh - but today, I can't fully recommend it. It's different, yes, but unfortunately, it disappointed me. Full review in Spanish.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 19, 2023

The weird thing about “Strays” is that the few really good jokes aren’t reliant on poop or penises or profanity, but good solid dog humor. … Those jokes are themselves strays, lost and in need of a good home.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 10, 2023

Sometimes you get blindsided by a slab of puerile, asinine comedy and you have no choice but to submit to it as your better judgment and notions of good taste expeditiously swirl straight down the crapper.

Full Review | Sep 8, 2023

It less resembles a comedy movie than one 12-year-old blurting out “penis!” and 15 other kids giggling.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Sep 7, 2023

Strays tries too hard to be edgy without nailing enough actual jokes…Josh Greenbaum’s film aims at something scattershot and scatological, but ends up feeling like something of a dog’s dinner...

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 7, 2023

It's uneven and should be sharper than it is, but is the dog movie equivalent of Bad Santa. Very scatological and obscene, but very funny.

Full Review | Sep 7, 2023

For audiences who want to just guffaw over bawdy humour coming out of the mouths of cute pups, Strays will be a winner and will probably have them howling. For anyone who wants a scintilla of humour that isn’t juvenile, they’d best move on.

Full Review | Sep 6, 2023

While cinematic canines have wagged across the silver screen since Rin Tin Tin’s heyday, Strays stands out by recognizing that any “man’s best friend” sentiment does neither side any favors.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 31, 2023

An average, predictable script is rescued from being truly irredeemable by an excellent cast of voice actors and a few bright jokes.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Aug 31, 2023

Greenbaum and Perrault work the R-rated premise to the breaking point and more often than not, beyond, delivering a steady diet of anatomical and excremental humour with almost admirable regularity.

Full Review | Aug 31, 2023