‘Strays’ review: Foxx lifts sophomoric R-rated doggie comedy

“Strays” is a reminder of why parental controls exist for digital devices.

At first glance, you’d assume this talking-dog live-action flick — appropriately scampering into theaters in the dog days of the summer movie season — is a kid-friendly adventure.

Umm … noooo … .

This send-up of recent doggie-centric movies made for a family audience — including 2017’s “A Dog Purpose” and its 2019 sequel, “A Dog’s Journey” — is chock full of sophomoric, adults-only humor.

And although, like so many R-rated comedies, it too often resorts to crudeness when it has nothing clever to offer — you will see some things you’ll wish you could unsee — it does possess at least one redeeming quality: The consistently hilarious voice work of Jamie Foxx.

Co-starring with Will Ferrell, the Academy Award winner for “Ray” elevates every F-bomb-laden sentence spoken by Bug, a Boston terrier who’s been on his own for a while. Foxx really gives it his all here.

The lead dog of “Strays,” however, is Ferrell’s Reggie, a border terrier owned by a dirtbag, Doug (Will Forte, “The Last Man on Earth”).

Reggie has an optimistic outlook very similar to that of Margot Robbie’s titular character in the megahit “Barbie,” which, of course, also features Ferrell. To Reggie, every day is the best day ever!

And he is comfortable assuming Doug is a great human even though he doesn’t know many others with which to compare him. In reality, Doug is a total loser who blames Reggie — whom he regularly calls by a much worse name — for his life falling apart, the pot-smoking slob repeatedly trying to ditch the pooch with what the latter believes to be an elaborate game of fetch.

(Like the name Doug calls Reggie, the actual title of this version of fetch can’t be repeated here, “Strays” proving to be the kind of movie where a reviewer jots down many notes even as he knows there is little point to doing so given language restrictions.)

Finally, after driving Reggie three hours away from their home and tossing a tennis ball for him to chase in a sketchy-looking alley, Doug seemingly is rid of the mangy-looking dog.

Reggie soon runs afoul of some intimidating dogs, but his soon-to-be pal Bug comes to the rescue, acting crazy enough that the much larger animals decide they have better places to be.

Bug then introduces Reggie to a couple of his pals: Maggie, a gift-for-sniff Australian shepherd voiced by Isla Fisher; and Hunter, an anxious Great Dane voiced by Randall Park.

The four go out for “Scraps Night,” a gluttonous and opportunistic intake of pizza and beer and partaking in, er, other pleasures, during which the other three help Reggie come to grips with what a lousy owner Doug has been. Reggie then decides he will exact revenge upon Doug — targeting his, well, favorite thing — and the four embark on an epic road trip.

“Strays” is written by Dan Perrault (mockumentary-style series “Players” and “American Vandal”), who grew up a fan of parodies but also is a dog lover and appreciator of “canine-cinema classics” such as “Homeward Bound” and 101 Dalmations,” according to the “Strays” production notes. That helps to explain the subversion-meets-heart vibe consistent throughout “Strays.”

And while “Strays” boasts notable producers including the endlessly talented tandem of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Perrault’s main partner in comedy crime here is director Josh Greenbaum (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”), who moves this four-legged affair along at a decent clip. (At about 90 minutes, it doesn’t overstay its welcome, thankfully.)

While Foxx, who voiced the lead character in 2020’s Oscar-winning “Soul,” is the standout, “Strays” benefits from the other primary actors, as well. Ferrell (“Megamind”) is his typically funny self, while Park (“Fresh off the Boat”) and Fisher (“Wedding Crashers”) bring a little something different to their respective characters. (Given that there ultimately isn’t much of a story to “Strays,” it’s surprising Perrault and Greenbaum don’t make more out of the mutual attraction of Maggie and Hunter, each of whom is working through some issues.)

Smaller but notable appearances are turned in by Rob Riggle (“The Hangover”), as a macho German shepherd working as a police dog, and Brett Gelman (“Stranger Things”), as an odd animal-control officer.

We also get a couple of really fun references to “A Dog’s Purpose,” a nice touch by the makers of “Strays.”

Again, though, the movie fits closer alongside the likes of 2012’s “Ted” and 2016’s “Sausage Party,” two other playful-looking romps made for grown-ups.

We laughed just enough throughout “Strays” to give it a tepid recommendation, even if a lot of our chuckling made us feel pretty childish.

‘Strays’

Where: Theaters.

When: Aug. 18.

Rated: R for pervasive language, crude and sexual content, and drug use.

Runtime: 1 hour, 33 minutes.

Stars (of four): 2.5.