Pets United

Parents need to know that Pets United is an animated movie about animals who find themselves up against robot police. Expect nonstop animated action, including chases, fights, predatory animals and robots, car/train crashes, flying knives, a menacing machine that crushes scrap metal (including, almost, a robot with human feelings and some pets), and the ultimate -- and somewhat vengeful -- destruction of an evil mastermind robot. Happily (possible spoiler alert?), the pets survive unharmed, including one who appeared to have been crushed at the start of the film, thanks to their courage and loyalty. The pets all have their own backstories and quirks, as well as a variety of European accents that could be seen as stereotypical (menacing zoo animals are Slavic, a braggy poodle is Italian, a spry fox is Irish, a snooty feline is British, etc). One animal is obsessed with body treatments like lip enhancements, eyelash extensions, nose jobs, waxing, massage, and more. Language is mostly taunts and insults ("loser," "stupid," "freak," "scum," "wimp," "bootlicker," "buffoon," etc.), and there are references to the "devil," "hell," "poo," and "fart." The movie tries to convey messages about respecting nature and the dangers of artificial intelligence, but it buries them too late in the film for them to have much impact on younger viewers. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.