Is it a sin in today's world to call a family film "sweet"? Kids these days are pretty sophisticated. They grow up watching movies that try their hardest to be "cool" or "awesome," films that "rock" or "are totally epic." Perhaps "sweet" is no longer considered an appealing adjective. However, there's no better term to describe Pets on a Train, a cheerful and charming animated film that will provide younger viewers with a fun time and also hold their parents' attention.
The main character is a raccoon named Falcon (it's a long story) who routinely steals food to feed other stray animals. He has a plan to rob a train carrying lots of treats in its kitchen car. Once aboard, Falcon encounters a group of animals caged for transport, including a cat named Maggie, a police dog named Rex, several birds, a turtle, a fish, a snake, and so on. An old enemy of Rex's is seeking revenge, so he takes remote control of the train, first evacuating the human passengers and then sending it speeding down the tracks. Falcon leads the others in trying to find a way to stop the locomotive before it crashes or derails.
Directors: Benoît Daffis, Jean-Christian Tassy
Writers: David Alaux, Eric Tosti, Jean-François Tosti
Stars: Damien Ferrette, Hervé Jolly, Kaycie Chase
Once the premise is established, Pets on a Train transforms into a children's action film with plenty of humor. The animals face a series of obstacles, from a partially burning train car to a rickety bridge that won't support the weight of the speeding train. As expected, Falcon goes under the cars at one point and over them at another. When a hole opens in the side of a car, the pets must cross a makeshift walkway to get from one side to the other. The danger is never presented in a truly frightening way; it's more about generating excitement.
Adults will appreciate the not-so-subtle parody of action movies. Falcon is this film's version of Tom Cruise in the Mission: Impossible franchise, effortlessly triumphing over each new danger. Directors Benoît Daffis and Jean-Christian Tassy even include visual references to Sylvester Stallone's films, Demolition Man and Cobra, for the parents to enjoy.
There are funny scenes scattered throughout the film. The animals' personalities are quite quirky, with jokes based on their particular behaviors. The hyperactivity of a chihuahua and the shyness of a turtle are some of the sources of comedy. While I usually complain about the scatological humor so common in animated films, I must admit that the pigeon joke made me laugh.
Pets on a Train isn't as visually sophisticated as a typical Pixar or DreamWorks film, but it's pleasant to look at. The story isn't very deep either. However, the pacing is brisk, which means children won't get bored easily, and the combination of action and humor keeps the film entertaining. Nobody will consider it a masterpiece. Cute, on the other hand, describes it perfectly.
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