STACK #229 November 2023

MOVIE FEATURE

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VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED

Every parent knows how hard it is to keep the little ones quiet for longer than five minutes, and the easiest solution is to plonk them in front of a movie. So, it goes without saying that it's hilariously frustrating when Hollywood releases an adults-only movie that has all the hallmarks of a wholesome kids' flick. We feel your pain, and recommend that you keep the tikes away from these rude bangers.

Strays is not a kids' movie. It's not even a family film. In fact, it's a vulgar, profanity-laden comedy that also happens to be one of the funniest movies of the year. Words Glenn Cochrane S trays riffs off the talking dog genre, taking cues from – and parodying – flicks like Far from Home and Marley

Forte). It’s a movie full of heart and non-stop laughs, and Greenbaum was adamant that getting inside the minds of dogs to understand their behaviours was the key to making Strays relatable. ”To me, the film is not a dog movie. It’s more of a metaphor about toxic relationships in friendship, and how your friends help you out, and how you find your sense of self-worth. That’s really what I wanted to do. But, of course, knowing that the dog genre that we’re using was our sheep’s clothing [for the wolf], I wanted to spoof the genre, which we do at times, but I also wanted to make sure that we did give voice to those dog moments that we know. ”Like when they’re trying to lay down and fall asleep,” he smiles, referencing a hilarious moment when the four dogs

& Me . And with a cast led by Will Ferrell, it offers a peek into the minds of dogs that most pet owners will wholeheartedly understand. STACK caught up with director Josh Greenbaum to discuss the film and pick his brain about its R-rated leanings (noting that an American R rating is more aligned with an Aussie MA15+). One trick many horror directors employ to achieve the edgiest possible R rating is to submit a ridiculously explicit cut to the ratings board, so that any enforced censorship will bring the content down to the originally desired levels. Is it possible that this was Greenbaum’s tactic with Strays , and a forbidden cut of the film exists? ”Oh, I love that question,” the director replies enthusiastically. ”It does not [exist]! But I feel like I should have tasked my editors with making an NC-17 version,” he laughs, before elaborating on the movie’s content. ”We always knew that we were in such an R-rated sweet spot. ”You know, an interesting thing that I found making a comedy is that when you want to make an R-rated comedy, you definitely want to

Director Josh Greenbaum and his canine cast

push. Because there’s an expectation of what is ’absurd’, and how people will be surprised. For

me, it’s not about making sure that the jokes are all R-rated; it’s just making sure that the jokes are funny.” Strays is the story of an abandoned dog named Reggie (voiced by Ferrell), who, along with three newfound friends, embarks on a four-legged

habitually fidget in circles before resting comfortably.

”Like, what is going on!? I love that we got the opportunity to not just give voice to that, but give an adult, R-rated voice to it, because they look like they’re getting frustrated. And what do dogs think about chocolate? And why do they think we pick up their sh—?”

• Strays is out Nov 29

road trip to seek vengeance on his abusive former owner (Will

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18 NOVEMBER 2023