It’s the weekend again, and that means Film Focus. Here’s Mike Laidman with what’s new in local theaters.
This weekend is a weekend for the kids. But even if you’re not a kid, stay tuned to see how you can keep them occupied for a couple hours should you need a bit of time to rest.

This week Norm of the North sees a fairly limited opening, as it’s arriving a good seven months after its original release. Then, next week, the well-received The Secret Life of Pets hits theatres. Not to give too much away, but you might just want to wait for that.

[Slug CG]
Mike Laidman

Welcome to another edition of Film Focus. I’m Mike Laidman.

[Slug CG]
Norm of the North (2016, Trevor Wall)
Polar bear Norm heads to New York to protect his Arctic home.

A polar bear of many words, Norm's greatest gripe is simple: there is no room for tourists in the Arctic. But when a maniacal developer threatens to build luxury condos in his own backyard, Norm does what all normal polar bears would do...he heads to New York City to stop it.

Norm’s biggest problem is that it’s just bland. While it combines elements from many recent children’s movies, these go nowhere, and so audiences are left with nothing more than a fairly weak environmental message and a lot of wasted potential. Additionally, this is one movie that, unlike a lot of Disney and Pixar work, isn’t a good crossover. While it’s good enough to entertain children, adults won’t find themselves being entertained alongside them.


[Slug CG]
The Secret Life of Pets (2016, Yarrow Cheney, Chris Renaud)
Max's quiet life is upended when his owner takes in a stray.

Opening next week, we have The Secret Life of Pets. This one has been eagerly anticipated for some time now, and it delivers. Fast-paced, funny, and blessed with a talented voice cast, The Secret Life of Pets offers a beautifully animated, cheerfully undemanding family-friendly diversion.

Max is a spoiled terrier who enjoys a comfortable life in a New York building until his owner adopts Duke, a giant and unruly canine. During their walk outside, they encounter a group of ferocious alley cats and wind up in a truck that's bound for the pound. Luckily, a rebellious bunny named Snowball swoops in to save them from captivity. In exchange, Snowball demands that Max and Duke join his gang of abandoned pets on a mission against the humans who've done them wrong.

Unlike Norm, this is one that adults should be able to sit through and enjoy. Own a pet? Check this one out and see what life is like on the other side.