**Movie Overview:** - A mix of comedy with some hits and misses. - Physical comedy elements present, but not all land well. - The movie has transitions that aren't always smooth. - **Main Characters:** - **Reggie (voiced by Will Ferrell):** A dog who believes his neglectful owner, Doug (Will Ford), cares for him. Despite being abandoned multiple times, Reggie always finds his way back. - **Bug (voiced by Jamie Foxx):** A fast-talking, foul-mouthed Boston terrier Reggie befriends. - **Maggie (voiced by Isla Fisher):** A smart Australian shepherd sidelined by her owner's new puppy. - **Hunter (voiced by Randall Park):** A failed police dog turned emotional support animal. Wears an Elizabethan collar and has unspoken feelings for Maggie. - **Plot Highlights:** - Reggie's journey to find his way back to Doug, leading him to meet other strays. - Reggie's internal conflict of wanting to reunite with Doug despite advice from his new friends. - A road trip filled with challenges and comedic moments. - **Production & Direction:** - A subversive comedy crafted by Dan Perro and directed by Josh Greenbaum. - Targeted at a young adult, predominantly male audience. - Unique element: All dogs talk, but humans can't understand them. - The film doesn't shy away from explicit content, including sexual references, innuendos, and humor centered around dog defecation. - **Performances:** - Maggie, with her Aussie accent, is a standout character. - Jamie Foxx brings a jive-talking flair to Bug. - Will Ferrell portrays Reggie as a loyal and conflicted dog. - Randall Park showcases Hunter's vulnerabilities. - Josh Gad shines in a minor role as Gus, a Labrador retriever who narrates his owner's life. - **Alex's Take:** - "Strays" aims to shock and succeeds in doing so. - The film has its moments, but Alex expected more humor. - The plot felt uneven, and while the concept was good, the execution was mediocre. - Alex's rating: 6/10. - **Outro:** - Thank you for tuning into Movies First with Alex First. - Available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHugRadio, and other podcast platforms. - Stream on demand at bitesz.com. - Brought to you by bitesz.com, a quality podcast production.