Fixed (2025)

​“Fixed” stars Adam DeVine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, and Bobby Moynihan.  Released on Netflix on August 13, 2025, the film has a dog embarking on an adventure before getting neutered.

The film was directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, who’s known for directing “Dexter’s Laboratory: Ego Trip” and the “Hotel Transylvania” trilogy.  He also created shows like “Dexter’s Laboratory”, “Samurai Jack”, “Primal”, and “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal”.  Dogs are often referred to as “man’s best friend” for their companionship.  However, if there’s one thing we should know about them, it’s that dogs are just like us.  Just as we express our generosity, affection, and support for one another, there are times when we show our love in ways that might be considered a bit risqué to explain.  We frequently witness dogs exhibiting these types of behaviors in public, whether at home or outdoors, yet that doesn’t diminish the unsavory nature of such acts, especially when it comes to mating.  A perfect idea to explore through an animated feature, am I right?  This brings us to Genndy Tartakovsky’s latest directorial endeavor since the “Hotel Transylvania” franchise, which prioritizes old-school 2D animation over the typical CGI animation found in other recent animated releases.  The fact that Sony Pictures Animation went from demon-hunting K-pop singers to sex-obsessed canines was a complete 180.  Nevertheless, it’s hard to ignore the company’s attempt to attract a more mature audience beyond its usual family-friendly offerings.  But was this doggone concept the right approach to do so, or did it deserve to be on the leash for its bad behavior?  Let’s find out.

The story follows Bull (DeVine), a cheerful blue Staffordshire Bull Terrier who enjoys a happy life with his owners.  Though slick and quick-witted, Bull tends to express his affection in a more risqué fashion through his balls.  Everything changes when Bull discovers that he’s scheduled to be neutered the following day, turning his carefree and kinky life upside down.  As a result, Bull decided to seize one last sexually-driven escapade with his balls with the help of his pack, consisting of Rocco (Elba), Fetch (Armisen), and Lucky (Moynihan).  However, when Bull’s next-door crush, Honey (Hahn), caught wind of the situation, he was faced with a life-changing decision that may alter his perspective on his off-leash life.

Genndy Tartakovsky has been a significant part of my childhood memories, as I grew up watching “Dexter’s Laboratory” and “Samurai Jack”.  With age, I began to appreciate his unique animation style, particularly its 2D aesthetics, slick slapstick humor, and compelling storytelling, which is especially evident in his more recent works, such as “Primal” and “Unicorn: Warriors Eternal”.  Additionally, he has made quite an impact in the film industry with the “Hotel Transylvania” franchise, both as a director and as a writer.  While these films aren’t without flaws, they successfully deliver all-ages entertainment through their cartoonish animation and humorous slapstick.  That alone piqued my interest in his latest animated project, which is notably more raunchy compared to a children’s movie about monsters managing a hotel, yet retains the familiar charm of his previous works.  However, as is often the case with R-rated sex comedies, animated or otherwise, not everyone seemed to be too thrilled with its crude humor, hence their polarizing reactions.  But, on the other hand, there have been some viewers who seemed unfazed by the sight of dogs swearing and doing their business for 87 minutes straight.  The question now is which side of the fence I’m on regarding my experience with it.

After finally getting the chance to watch it, I found myself on the side of the fence that actually enjoyed its crude, doggy nature.  “Fixed” is undeniably risqué when referring to the dogs’ perverse instincts, but it also doesn’t shy away from the vulgarity often found in Western adult animated shows.  Although it occasionally succumbs to familiar pitfalls, that doesn’t necessarily make it automatically bad.  The appeal largely hinges on individual tastes in adult humor.  Some audiences like it overly raunchy and wild, whereas others favor a balanced approach with narrative depth and character development amid the sex jokes.  Regardless of how cleverly amusing the humor is, it’s vital for the substance to match the vulgarity to avoid it becoming a disgusting one-trick pony, or in this case, a one-trick puppy.  Bonus points if the animation offers a good enough quality to enhance the viewing experience.  Fortunately, “Fixed” managed to dig up a compelling narrative worthy of complementing its characters’ risqué antics.  It’s equivalent to our own canine companions.  They can be too rambunctious for their own good, especially when they try to hump other dogs or even a grandmother’s leg, but they can also be full of energy and love once you bypass their behaviors.

That’s how I would describe “Fixed”: a fun, unquestionably vulgar, and visually expressive comedy that packs enough heart to accompany its adult humor.  Now, you might be wondering how a film so prominently advertised for its vulgarity on Netflix can possess heart.  Well, for one thing, you should never judge a movie solely on its marketing.  Secondly, its emotional core lies in its plot, which offers more than just a barrage of risqué jokes and canine puns.  While it centers on Bull embarking on a balls-to-the-wall adventure in the city, “Fixed” is basically about his impending neutering, which makes him see his life differently.  It showcases Bull having a false sense of security with his balls, as he believes they are the only things that tie to his identity and his affection for his next-door show dog, Honey.  But, with him getting neutered the next day, he has until then to express his true feelings to Honey.  It highlighted the importance of self-love as a precursor to loving others, celebrating individual differences—even among dogs.

While the film delivered what one might expect from a sex comedy, particularly in adult animation, it also incorporated a touch of Judd Apatow’s influence to convey its messages in a heartfelt and somewhat mature manner.  This is mainly due to Genndy Tartakovsky’s screenplay, which he co-wrote with “Simpsons” writer Jon Vitti.  Unsurprisingly, much of the script was plagued by its formulaic plot elements and a degree of crudeness that may not resonate with everyone.  Of course, it’s also worth noting that its vulgarity should not be exposed to children, as I cannot stress that enough.  However, it managed to balance its raunchy humor with some character-driven moments, with its jokes being witty and entertaining.  Of course, it’s not just the sex-related comedy that provides its share of laughs.  It’s also the puns involving canine behavior that we can relate to, whether we’re dog owners or not, which I found more hilarious than the usual sex jokes.  As a dog owner myself, I can also relate to how my own dogs often react.  Its story may not be as groundbreaking as other animated films, but Tartakovsky’s witty humor fits seamlessly with the film’s brisk pace and visual eccentricity.

Speaking of eccentricity, the animation style is unsurprisingly at its usual heights under Genndy Tartakovsky's influence.  “Fixed” employed traditional animation to express its colorful and dynamic antics, especially when combined with its visual gags and expressive movements.  It aimed to pay homage to Disney’s classic dog movies, such as “Lady and the Tramp”, while also drawing inspiration from the works of Tex Avery and Chuck Jones.  Although it leaned more toward the latter, the hand-drawn animation maintained charm and vibrancy, enhancing the detailed expressions, color palettes, and lively landscapes.  Tartakovsky initially considered using CGI for “Fixed”, akin to his “Hotel Transylvania” movies, but ultimately chose 2D animation, which I’m glad he did.  While “Hotel Transylvania” demonstrated Tartakovsky’s usual 2D style translating into CGI, seeing “Fixed” in its traditional animation prime easily evokes nostalgia for his earlier cartoons I grew up watching, such as “Dexter’s Laboratory”.  It may not possess the cinematic grandeur of some contemporary animated films like “Spider-Verse”, but it reinforced Tartakovsky’s reputation as one of the best animators working today.

Finally, we have its voice cast, which was packed with some recognizable names.  Despite employing the usual acting schticks they often deliver in their previous roles, they still provided enough entertainment in their vocal performances to elevate the film’s dynamic characters and narrative.  Adam DeVine has his share of hits and misses in his filmography, but it’s easy to admit that his distinct charisma and energy kept me engaged with his brand of humor.  His performance as Bull is unsurprisingly no exception, as he retains the approachable aura and amusement from his previous films to convey the mutt’s generous yet perversely flawed characteristics.  Obviously, his role will depend on people’s viewpoint on his signature humor, but those who enjoyed DeVine as much as I did would find something to admire in his take on the ball-obsessed canine.  Idris Elba also managed to surprise me once more with his comedic chops regarding his performance as Rocco, one of Bull’s friends.  He may be another man of action in terms of his grounded and action-packed roles, but Elba has constantly shown that his presence can also be beneficial through his comical side.  That is, if the proper script can match his talents.  Kathryn Hahn delivered a solid performance as Bull’s crush, Honey, while Fred Armisen provided suitable comic relief as Fetch, whose running gag stemmed from walking like a human and his influencer status.

Overall, “Fixed” digs up enough fun merits in its zaniness and hilarity to make genre fans bark with laughter, even if it doesn’t neuter all the recurring issues that have plagued other recent adult animated offerings.  If you’re anticipating another masterpiece akin to “Spider-Verse” or even “KPop Demon Hunters” within Sony’s animation library, you’re likely setting yourself up for doggy duty.  In terms of its predictable narrative tricks and crude humor typical of other sex comedies, it doesn’t present anything we haven’t seen before, especially since we already had an R-rated dog comedy titled “Strays” just two years ago.  However, similar to Josh Greenbaum's doggone comedy, “Fixed” offers plenty of heart and vibrancy beneath its dirty fur to balance its vulgar antics without crossing into excruciating rudeness.  The voice cast delivered entertaining performances, and the script was surprisingly decent for its blend of adult humor and heartfelt messages.  The animation was also vibrant, sleek, and irresistibly expressive, demonstrating Tartakovsky’s artistic talent across genres, even if it doesn’t reach the heights of other pioneering animated projects, including ones from Tartakovsky.  It’s understandable why this film may not resonate with everyone as much as it does with others.  It’s another piece of adult animation that leans on mindless profanity and lewd humor to assert its departure from what is typically regarded as a “kids’ cartoon”.  Nevertheless, I can almost guarantee that those who don’t mind the vulgarity will have an easy time with “Fixed”, with its exploration of self-love serving as the true reward in enduring its crude behavior.

B-