WFG RATING: A

Kaleidoscope Entertainment presents a Second Chance Productions film in association with Polycat Visual Effects, Ferin Post Production, and GTE Productions. Directed by Gottfried Roodt and Kevin Donovan. Produced by Mariah Owen and Amy Katharine Taylor. Written by Jaisa C. Bishop, Bruce A. Taylor, and Kelly Peters. 

Featuring the voices of Claire Alan, Cory Doran, Bianca Alongi, Danny Trejo, Al Franken, Susan Sarandon, Bill Nighy, Alicia Silverstone, Brooke Shields, Mike Nadajewski, James Kee, Ron Pardo, John Stocker, Judy Marshak, and Rob van Vuuren. 

Who says cats and dogs can’t be friends? These two prove differently in this fun animated feature!

Gracie and Pedro couldn’t be more different from each other. Gracie is a purebred show dog who was adopted into a loving family while Pedro is a former street cat who has been domesticated by the same family. Consisting of the parents, teen daughter Sophie, and hearing impaired son Brian, the family are gearing up for a move to Salt Lake City. However, a mishap causes the caged Gracie and Pedro to be separated from the family as the plane takes off.

Needing to get back to the family, Gracie and Pedro are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. As they begin their journey, they come across the likes of two con rats, a magician’s rabbit, and a ferret with a human detective on his side who are tracking the duo down. Meanwhile, the family, learning of the mishap, decide to take matters in their hands to get Gracie and Pedro back. Will Gracie and Pedro return to their family without killing each other first?

Everyone’s always talking about Disney and Dreamworks animated films when it comes to great family animated films. Very rarely do you get to hear films from a more independent and global perspective. Well, be prepared because this film, a South African-Canadian-U.S. co-production, is one of the best animated films of the year that’s nothing to do with the big companies. A heartwarming tale about rival pets on a journey to not only return to family, but learn about themselves and each other in the process.

Claire Alan and Cory Doran have great chemistry as mismatched pets Gracie and Pedro respectively. Gracie is prim and proper complete with a British accent while Pedro is brash, wild, and crazy with a New York-style accent. As the title indicates, they are on a possibly impossible mission to return home. However, they are determined to do what it takes to get home and come across some wild and crazy characters, which brings us to the star-studded credited cast. 

Susan Sarandon is hilarious in her scene as Shades, a magician’s rabbit who chats up the duo while on a train to Vegas. Alicia Silverstone is Sissy-Chrissy, a dual-headed snake who tends to make Pedro their next meal. Bill Nighy’s vulture Conrad is reminiscent of Rio’s Nigel, only more sinister and tends to “feed” off their fears, literally. Mike Nadajewski is hilarious as the ferret Sherlock, but even funnier is his human partner Doyle, played by James Kee. Doyle is reminiscent of Kronk, a total bumbling and funny sidekick. Let’s add to the mix  Ron Pardo and John Stocker as the hysterical con rat duo Wade and Rasputin. These two have a funny post-credit song that I couldn’t help but laugh at. 

The family even has their moments. The parents are voiced by Judy Marshak and Rob van Vuuren with the legendary Al Franken as the oblivious Gramps. However, the film is narrated by the family fish, Lawrence, played by one Danny Trejo, who is hilarious when his bowl is hit with a ball almost forcing him out of the water and somehow, he miraculously gets back in there. Bianca Alongi is great as Sophie with her brother communicating through sign language and a computer and together, like their pets, work together to get the pets back through a video they make. 

If you’re looking for a different kind of animated film that’s loads of fun and has lots of heart, then Gracie and Pedro: Mission Impossible is the film for you. A great voice cast and funny moments make this one to watch for sure! 

The film will be released in U.K. theaters on August 9.