Get ready for a howling good time with the upcoming release of Strays - the hilarious new comedy that's not your typical talking dog movie. Unlike those family-friendly flicks, Strays takes things up a notch with a bit of edge and a lot of raunchy humor. Think Ted meets Homeward Bound, with cute and cuddly canines that aren't afraid to utter a curse word or two.
With a creative team that's chock-full of comedy geniuses, both on and off the screen, Strays promises to be the hottest comedy of the summer. So, grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to laugh your tail off!
What's the premise of Strays, the new talking dog comedy?
The uproarious comedy that's anything but ordinary. Meet Reggie, the lovable Border Terrier who's head-over-paws for his owner Doug, despite his terrible treatment of him. But when Doug abandons Reggie in the bustling city, he's forced to team up with a scrappy crew of stray dogs to plot his revenge.
But this isn't your typical revenge story - Reggie and his pack of pups are taking things to the extreme. With biting wit and a bite that's a bit too close for comfort, Strays will have you howling with laughter as they teach Doug a lesson he won't soon forget. So, grab a leash and get ready for a wild ride - Strays is a comedy that's truly gone to the dogs!
The official synopsis from Universal reads:
They say a dog is a man’s best friend, but what if the man is a total dirtbag? In that case, it might be time for some sweet revenge, doggy style. When Reggie (Will Ferrell), a naïve, relentlessly optimistic Border Terrier, is abandoned on the mean city streets by his lowlife owner, Doug (Will Forte; The Last Man on Earth, Nebraska), Reggie is confident that his beloved owner would never leave him on purpose. But once Reggie falls in with a fast-talking, foul-mouthed Boston Terrier named Bug (Oscar® winner Jamie Foxx), a stray who loves his freedom and believes that owners are for suckers, Reggie finally realizes he was in a toxic relationship and begins to see Doug for the heartless sleazeball that he is. Determined to seek revenge, Reggie, Bug, and Bug’s pals—Maggie (Isla Fisher; Now You See Me, Wedding Crashers), a smart Australian Shepherd who has been sidelined by her owner’s new puppy, and Hunter (Randall Park; Always Be My Maybe, Aquaman), an anxious Great Dane who’s stressed out by his work as an emotional support animal—together hatch a plan and embark on an epic adventure to help Reggie find his way home … and make Doug pay by biting off the appendage he loves the most. (Hint: It’s not his foot). A subversion of the dog movies we know and love, Strays, directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) and written by Dan Perrault (Players, American Vandal), is a hilarious, R-rated, live-action comedy about the complications of love, the importance of great friendships, and the unexpected virtues of couch humping.
Can you give me the rundown of the talented cast behind Strays?
Strays feature an impressive cast, and it's headlined by two names that are regarded as comedy royalty: Will Ferrell and Academy Award Winner Jamie Foxx. Ferrell rose to fame on the big screen with hit comedies such as Elf, the Anchorman films, Old School, and Step Brothers, and he recently shared the screen with Ryan Reynolds in the musical Christmas comedy film Spirited. Strays aren't the only major movie that Ferrell will be in this summer as he is also part of the star-studded cast of Greta Gerwig's Barbie. Ferrell will lend his voice to Reggie, the main dog at the center of the film.
The star-studded cast of Strays is barking up a storm! Jamie Foxx, the versatile actor who's tackled everything from superhero flicks to biographical dramas, is lending his voice to Bug, the streetwise Boston Terrier who's got Reggie's back. But Foxx is just the beginning of the A-list talent in this film.
Will Forte, known for his hilarious performances on The Last Man on Earth, takes on the role of Doug, the beer-guzzling, abusive owner who sets the events of the movie into motion. Meanwhile, Randall Park and Isla Fisher bring their comedic chops to the table as Hunter, the anxious Great Dane with a cone around his neck, and Maggie, the clever Australian Shepherd.
But the fun doesn't stop there - Strays boasts an all-star lineup of supporting players, including Josh Gad, Harvey Guillén, Rob Riggle, Brett Gelman, Jamie Demetriou, and Sofia Vergara. With this many comedic heavyweights on board, Strays is sure to have you laughing all the way from start to finish.
When Strays will be released?
Universal has staked out a prime summer release date for Strays, as it'll be hitting theaters on June 9, 2023. The film will be opening against Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the seventh entry in Paramount's highly successful franchise.
Typically, when a major studio slots a comedy for the summer it means they're confident in the film and that seems to be the case with Universal and Strays. Director Josh Greenbaum spoke of the film's test screenings in a recent interview:
"So yeah, our very first preview was a joy for me and the studio and everyone watching because it tested very well, particularly for a first screening, but also just in our climactic kind of moment, we had full applause and full hooting and hollering. I was like, "Oh, this is working." So really exciting and positive, and I can only assume, that will continue. But it was really fun and it's been a while since we did those previews."
Are there any teasers or trailers available for Strays, the new talking dog movie?
The official trailer for Strays was released by Universal Pictures on February 8, 2023. Whilst namedropping hit comedies like 21 Jump Street and Ted, the very R-Rated trailer is full of the ragtag group of dogs dropping f-bombs, drinking alcohol, humping garden gnomes, and ingesting mushrooms. A sock puppet is also involved because you can never go wrong with sock puppets.
Who's in charge of directing, writing, and producing Strays?
This raunchy yet heartwarming comedy is directed by none other than Josh Greenbaum, the creative mastermind behind hit documentaries like The Short Game and Becoming Bond. After making waves with his first feature film Barb & Star go to Vista del Mar, starring comedy queens Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, Greenbaum is back with a fresh take on man's best friend. With his unique vision and impressive track record, we can't wait to see what he's cooked up with Strays.
Strays have an all-star team of writers and producers behind it! Dan Perrault, the hilarious co-creator of American Vandal and Players, is the mastermind behind the film's witty screenplay and is also serving as one of its producers. But that's not all - Strays is also being produced by the legendary duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller, whose credits include hit comedies like The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, as well as the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. With such a talented group of producers, including Aditya Sood (Cocaine Bear), Erik Feig (Cha Cha Real Smooth), and Louis Leterrier (Fast X), you can bet that Strays is going to be a howling success.
The effects-heavy film about talking dogs seeking revenge was shot in Atlanta, Georgia between September and December 2021. The post-production process for this kind of movie is usually lengthy, but according to director Josh Greenbaum, Strays is already 100% complete! Are you ready to see these talking dogs in action?
"We're done. Yeah, we are finished, which feels nice. It was a long post because of all the VFX. Like I mentioned, we had enough time to keep rewriting, depending on what the dogs did in the footage versus what… You know, we might see a shot and say, "Oh, there's a joke we can use from that weird moment that happened," or whatever improv happened with the actors. But no, we're all finished."
Interestingly, while Ferrell, Foxx, Fisher, and Park weren't on the set for the film, Greenbaum tried to get them to record all of their lines together.
"Maybe one aspect that [is] surprising to the average person is, I worked really hard once we got our incredible cast together – Will Ferrell and Jamie Fox and Isla Fisher and Randall Park – I got them together for most of their voice sessions. That was really important to me. I don't know if there was a session with Will or Jamie where at least the other person wasn't there, because they're the two main characters, and that was really huge."
What makes Strays an R-rated movie?
Attention all dog lovers! Get ready for the raunchiest and funniest talking dog movie yet - Strays! But be warned, it's not for the faint of heart. With its R rating for pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and drug use, you might want to leave the kiddos at home for this one. Check out the film's official poster and trailer thumbnail to get a taste of what's in store. Get ready for a wild ride with these rebellious and foul-mouthed pups.
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