Pets is the rare documentary for children, about children

Most documentaries are not really aimed at children.

- ALISSA WILKINSON

The film world seems to think they are only interested in animated movies about, frequently, talking pets. If a documentary is for families, on the other hand, there's a good chance it involves wildlife.

But Pets (on Disney+ Hotstar) remixes all of that. It's a documentary about the title subjects and their humans, aimed at and largely populated by children. Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, it's a sweet-tempered film that celebrates the animals we love and seems to have a secondary purpose, too: to convince viewers to support and even develop a love for animal rescue.