Genndy Tartakovsky is one of American animation's true giants. From the stoic Samurai Jack, to the breathtaking Primal and awe-inspiring Unicorn: Warriors Eternal, Tartakovsky's career is awash with crowning glories. Fixed, unfortunately, does not even come close to those heights. An occasionally grotesque and unsettling parade of delinquent teenage boy humour, Tartakovsky's latest effort retains his addictive visual stamp but boasts none of the heart that makes his works so meaningful.
Bull (Adam DeVine), a two-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, humps everything in sight and harbours a secret crush on his neighbour, Honey (Kathryn Hahn). However, his world comes crashing down when he realises he is about to be neutered by his supposedly loving family. Running away from home, his friends Rocco (Idris Elba), Fetch (Fred Armisen), and Lucky (Bobby Moynihan) help Bull enjoy a one-night bender so he can, for one last time, ignore what's between his ears in favour of what's between his legs.
Fixed could have, in another universe, turned into an amusing yet poignant story about how your body doesn't have to limit who you are. There are some hints to this littered throughout the film, particularly during a sequence that illustrates the absurdity of dog shows. It is hard to appreciate this however because, sadly, Fixed is disgusting. Not in a pushing-the-envelope kind of way, but in a pre-pubescant teenager kind of way. Some dogs do it human style, there are more shots of testicles (sometimes autonomous testicles) than you would ever care to see, and goings on in a doggie brothel that you just don't need to witness. This might be okay if there were at least some variety, but there isn't. Almost the entire gag rests on the premise that balls and sex are hilarious. If you don't believe that, then you're in for a long 87 minutes.
Tartakovsky has one of the most recognisable visual styles in animation, and it is on full display again. Block colours and shapes contrasting with the more free-flowing style afforded to the characters bring about a world often awash with colour and style. Unfortunately, it is hard to appreciate artistic merit when dog bollocks are constantly flapping around in your face. There's something to be said for the skill needed to animate scenes that evoke any kind of strong reaction out of you, be it admiration or disgust. But you won't really be giving this much thought whenever you see Bull attempt to relieve himself on yoghurt. The story proves to be a horrid distraction from the work and imagination that went into bringing this world to life.
What really lets Fixed down is that Bull does not make for an especially likeable hero. A randy mutt who (ironically) doesn't have the balls to confess his love for his best friend, his outlook on life doesn't dramatically change as a result of his misadventures. Adam DeVine is an understandable choice for the role, but his whiny, sometimes grating voice does Bull no favours when trying to win over your affection. Far more entertaining is Elba as Rocco; a gruff boxer with mommy issues who frequently gets some of the funniest moments, helped by Elba's infectiously sincere delivery.
Tartakovsky still has plenty to offer the world of animation—loyal fans wait for updates on season three of Primal with bated breath—but Fixed is a thankfully rare blot. Its visual ingenuity and a handful of decent voice performances cannot rescue a crass, immature attempt at comedy that feels as outdated as it does bewildering. Hardly the dog's bollocks.
Fixed is streaming on Netflix now.
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