Cats & Dogs 3: Paw Unite! Blu-ray review

Oct 10, 2020- Permalink

The Cats & Dogs movie franchise, which started back in 2001, is now a trilogy with the release of Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite!, which sees the cats and dogs of F.A.R.T. (Furry Animals Rivalry Termination) pitted against the birds, snakes, and turtles of P.O.O.P. (Pets Out of the Ordinary Pedigree) in a battle for human affection. Starring the voice talents of Max Greenfield, Melissa Rauch, and George Lopez, the humour is aimed at four-year-olds who like the idea of open mic night at the daycare. Besides the animal storyline, which features some truly “special” effects when the animals use their paws, the movie also follows their human owners, and looks at overbearing parents and money issues. Warner Brothers Home Entertainment sent me a copy to review, but the thoughts and opinions below are my own.

The 1080p AVC-encoded transfer is in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. While the first movie in the franchise was a theatrical release with voice talents like Jeff Goldblum and Alec Baldwin, this direct-to-video installment at times looks like it was financed by change found in the couch. Though the video presentation is crystal clear and full of good detail in fur, skin textures, and environments, there are jarring shots in some scenes that look like they were shot on an early camcorder, exhibiting a flatness that stands out in comparison. The colour palette appears a bit muted, which is a bit unusual for a movie aimed at keep the attention of young ones.

On the audio end, there’s an English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Subtitles are available for English SDH. The soundtrack is mostly front-focused, with the surround speakers occasionally asked to provide some ambient effects, while your subwoofer gets to rest for most of the movie. Dialogue is clear and centred.

On the extras side, the combo pack also comes with a DVD version and a digital code. There’s a small “making of” featurette, “interviews” with the animal cast, and a gag reel.

I’m sure that some very young children will find Cats & Dogs 3: Paws Unite! the sort of distraction that they can watch over and over again, especially if they’re connoisseurs of repeated poop and fart jokes. If you’re looking for the sort of family movie that everyone of all ages will find entertaining, this probably isn’t it.