Strays is the new comedy shining in the Prime Video catalog just one day after its streaming debut. The film, directed by Josh Greenbaum and written by Dan Perrault, has quickly become the most-watched in the United States.
As is often the case with star-studded productions, the title wasted no time securing a spot in the American Top 10, climbing to the first position and surpassing The Underdoggs, Fast X and Saltburn.
The movie is produced by Universal Pictures, and it seems that the platform continues to be the go-to streaming home for this films. The story is ideal for adult audiences, as it follows talking dogs, with an R rating.
Strays is the No. 1 movie on Prime Video US
According to the metrics-focused site Flix Patrol, Strays is not only the new comedy shining in the Prime Video catalog but has also been classified as the most-watched movie in the United States just one day after its release on the platform.
It has managed to surpass major productions that had been maintaining their status within the American Top 10, such as Emeral Fennell’s Saltburn, which was one of the most popular dramas on the streaming service in the last month.
Now, it’s the dog comedy that has captured the attention, hearts, and laughter of users. The story follows a dog abandoned by its useless owner who then finds a gang of strays to help him get revenge on this waste of space.
Like any comedy production, the narrative has several key elements: witty and sharp dialogue, elements of satire and social criticism, visual gags, comedic situations, cultural references and quick, sarcastic exchanges between the main canine characters and their respective owners.
IMDb confirmed that 95% of the movie featured real dogs, and the voice cast is composed of industry giants. Will Ferrell, Jamie Foxx, Isla Fisher, Randall Park, Sofia Vergara and Josh Gad are among them.
The list is quite extensive, and those appearing as human characters are limited to Will Forte, who voices Doug, Reggie’s owner, Brett Gelman, who plays Willy and Charity Cervantes, whoplays Jenna.
Josh Greenbaum talked about what it was like to work with the A-list stars
Director Josh Greenbaum opened up in an interview with ComicBook about what it was like working with two great comedic actors like Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx on the film released in 2023. He expressed that witnessing them act together was a great experience and that, with all the years he has worked in the industry, it has given him moments he will never forget.
“They do a session, and they read their lines in front of a director like me, and I’m not a professional actor. So, having a Will Ferrell, not just because he’s so good at playing that sweet, innocent, and naive Reggie/Buddy the Elf, which is a great reference.
But, knowing that, when he wants to go head-to-head with Jamie Foxx, who is an incredible comedian, and Isla Fisher or Randall Park. And I put them all in a room. So, in all of their sessions, they were there, and they could improvise and riff. It’s like Will Ferrell comes to life”, he stated.
Once he brought them together in the same room, the chemistry and the rest were history. The cast flowed naturally, and the story and improvisations evolved to the final result: Strays. To conclude the conversation, the filmmaker added:
“That’s why you love him because it’s like he comes up with a joke, a take, or a delivery of something you never saw coming. At one point, Jamie and Will were together in a session, and I’ll never forget it. [They] had never worked together, and it was like watching these two comedy giants hit the ball back and forth.
At one point, I think we had a break to go to the bathroom, and I said, ‘Man, everything’s going great,’ and Jamie looks at me and says, ‘You know, how Will is? He’s an amazing knuckleball pitcher. You just don’t know. He’s got every fastball; he’s got all the jokes. But whatever he throws at you, it’s different every time. It’s fresh, and it keeps you on your toes.’ I love that analogy”.
What did the critics say about Strays?
Well, the comedy of 2023 received mixed reviews from film experts, but for the most part, they were positive and enjoyable. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian was one of the first to give his opinion, awarding it four out of five stars.
In the iconic online newspaper, he wrote, “The cute talking pigs of the Babe films taught audiences to love real animals with CGI human-talking mouths; I myself was always agnostic, finding them lacking in both the unadorned charm of live-action animals and the complete ingenuity of animations. But this brutally funny stoner comedy about four pottymouthed stray dogs on an incredible quest has changed my mind. You’ll believe a dog can talk – and be extremely abusive”.
Christy Lemire also gave her verdict, granting three stars on the official Robert Ebert site, where she published, “Strays is more or less a one-joke movie, a late-summer lark. But it finds enough ways to riff on that joke within its perfectly concise running time to stay nimble and enjoyable. The way it upends the heartfelt tropes of canine adventure movies is often inspiringly hilarious“.
Various writers from major media outlets have shared their opinions on the film, such as Glenn Kenny from The New York Times and Todd Gilchrist from Variety. Most agreed on one thing: the story is original, ironic, and daring, but everyone has loved it for its eloquence.