Genndy Tartakovsky has spent much of his career considering what’s appropriate for children, whether at Cartoon Network or at the helm of three Hotel Transylvania films. Now, with the R-rated Fixed, he’s off the leash, and using traditional animation rather than CGI. But even if Tartakovsky achieved a sense of catharsis from being able to animate a dog’s bouncing nutsack, it doesn’t translate to a fulfilling viewing experience.
That nutsack belongs to Bull (Adam DeVine), but not for long. His human owners have had enough of him humping everything from Grandma’s leg to the backyard garden hose, and now he’s set to be neutered. Bull, though, isn’t about to take this lying down—especially when it might ruin his chances with the show dog next door (Kathryn Hahn). So he breaks out of his backyard and sets out for a raucous night in the city, where he’s soon joined by his already-neutered pals: a boxer (Idris Elba) with mommy issues, a spacey beagle (Bobby Moynihan), and a dachshund (Fred Armisen) that’s always dressed up in miniature people clothes.
Fixed is convinced that it can coast on the novelty of cartoon animals having sex and saying words that typically get bleeped out on television. And it does to a point. Coupled with committed voice performances, the characters are wonderfully expressive, their faces and mouths contorting around each syllable. But to what end? Several exchanges go on too long, and to the point that it can feel like Tartakovsky and co-writer Jon Vitti were trying to capture the meandering energy of comedians riffing their way through a scene. Elsewhere, many retorts could pass for placeholders, like the way one alley cat repeatedly sighs, “Fucking dogs.”
Fixed is about a dog’s testicles, so it’s safe to say that we’re meant to enjoy the low-hanging fruit of its comedy. But the balls-out shock value doesn’t detract from the fact that the film is more square than its makers probably think it is. Save for one amusing sequence set in a canine brothel, our pack of wayward dogs mostly get into run-of-the-mill mischief. Theirs is a boys’ night out that includes stealing food, chasing a squirrel, and crashing a dog show full of female dogs, and the familiarity of their escapades is something that no amount of swear words can fix.
Since 2001, we've brought you uncompromising, candid takes on the world of film, music, television, video games, theater, and more. Independently owned and operated publications like Slant have been hit hard in recent years, but we’re committed to keeping our content free and accessible—meaning no paywalls or fees.
If you like what we do, please consider subscribing to our Patreon or making a donation.
Do you even know who Ralph Bakshi is or are you completely ignorant of the field which you write about? Where do they find you people? They close their eyes and point at a map?
Don’t be offended by what you see. They represent what God made. Don’t swear an oath that God does not want you to say. That is real swearing. Be as sympathetic to Bull as his dog friends. Kids need to see this being sympathetic to bull, too.