Pets on A Train 2025 Movie Review
Pets on a Train—also known by its original French title Falcon Express in some markets—arrives in 2025 as a family-friendly animated adventure combining thrills, humor, and a dash of seasonal spirit. Directed by Benoît Daffis and Jean-Christian Tassy, the film follows Falcon, a cunning raccoon, and Rex, a dutiful police dog, as they and a host of other animals attempt to save themselves from danger when a train is set on a runaway course.
From a narrative standpoint, Pets on a Train embraces the familiar structure of perilous journeys and tight-rope situations, a formula that has proven effective in family animation. The premise is simple yet serviceable: what begins as a heist—Falcon’s scheme to help feed his community—spirals into a desperate scramble to salvage life and hope when the train careens out of control. This straightforward plotting is part of what gives the film its accessible appeal for younger audiences—but it also reveals its limitations for viewers seeking deeper resonance or innovation.
One of the film’s strengths lies in its pacing and momentum. The train setting naturally imposes a sense of forward motion and constant tension, which the directors exploit through a sequence of escalating obstacles—cars peeling off, structural stress, collisions, and near-misss. Common Sense Media notes that though the danger is real, the editing and tone generally soften the impact so that it remains suitable for children.The team behind the animation does a decent job of weaving in suspense without overwhelming the audience, and for most of its 96-minute runtime, Pets on a Train maintains a brisk tempo that keeps younger viewers engaged.
Where the film often falters is in its attempt to imbue emotional depth or substantive character arcs. Falcon is given a backstory of purposeful thievery—he steals food to help his community—but this setup is not always fully explored.His character arc—learning to value honesty and leadership—is serviceable, but at times lacks nuance. Similarly, other animal characters occupy pretty well-worn archetypes: the bluffing tough guy, the anxious sidekick, the noble dog cop, and so forth. The villainous badger Hans is driven by revenge, which is a predictable motivation in a children’s film, and his machinations rarely surprise. The result is that while individual scenes may land, the overall emotional stakes feel underdeveloped.
In terms of humor, Pets on a Train leans into mild slapstick and a smattering of potty jokes and rude language—“doo-doo,” “kiss my tail,” “scumbag,” and the like—all of which are justified in the context of a kids’ adventure but occasionally feel overused. The balance between tension and laughs is uneven: moments meant to elicit laughs sometimes undercut the suspense, and conversely, in moments of danger, the film sometimes pulls back from intensity to preserve a gentler tone. That said, many viewers—especially younger ones—will likely accept this as part of the package.
Visually, the movie performs solidly. Pets on a Train doesn’t reach the heights of premium animation powerhouses, but the designs are colorful, expressive, and imaginative. The train itself is almost a character, with its twisting cars, threatening mechanical breakdowns, and occasional anthropomorphic “eyes” formed by debris and lighting. The animators lean into action set pieces plenty: sequences of animals clinging to train cars, collisions, cars breaking apart—all this gives the film tangible stakes. Common Sense Media observes that the peril is softened through crosscutting, reassuring dialogue, and occasional comic relief to keep the experience child-friendly.
One element that some viewers have cited as weaker is the film’s seasonal framing. Though Pets on a Train is nominally set around Christmastime—and Falcon’s heist is motivated by a desire to provide a holiday feast for his community—the holiday ambiance never quite melds seamlessly into the narrative. Rather than being integral to the emotional core or themes, Christmas functions more like a decorative backdrop or catalyst. Common Sense Media remarks that the film is “tough to call a Christmas movie,” since it never deeply engages with the kind of holiday themes (family, giving, redemption) that many seasonal films do.
For older audiences or adult animation fans, Pets on a Train may come across as innocuous and predictable. On Letterboxd, one reviewer writes: “definitely a kids-only ride … the characters felt flat and the story ordinary”. Another reviewer notes that while there are a few funny moments, for adults the film offers limited delights beyond polite entertainment.That said, for its target audience—children and families—it largely delivers on its promise of a light, thrilling ride with safe stakes and plenty of action.
The film’s critical reception has been cautiously positive. Rotten Tomatoes classifies it as a “mildly engaging, fast-paced, amusing and kid-friendly animated adventure.” The limited number of critic reviews suggests that it may not be a breakout in terms of review accolades, but it seems to satisfy expectations for its genre and demographic. At the same time, Metacritic currently lacks a full critic consensus for the film.
One of the more subtle strengths is the film’s thematic encouragement of cooperation, courage, and self-acceptance. Falcon’s journey toward acknowledging his own worth—without relying on lies or bravado—has a gentle, positive resonance. Common Sense Media highlights that the animals learn to work as a team and to recognize their own value, and that might be a useful springboard for conversations with kids about honesty and self-esteem. Though the film does not deeply probe moral ambiguity, its messages are explicit and straightforward in a way that will land with its intended audience.
However, the film’s constraints are also worth acknowledging. Pets on a Train rarely surprises. The narrative beats—betrayals, last-second saves, internal mistrust, external sabotage—follow the well-trodden path of family animations and adventure films. There are plot holes and logic stretches: for instance, the film’s subplot about a child traveling alone and jumping into a helicopter seems underdeveloped and only loosely tied to the main story. The film’s reliance on conventional formulas makes it safe—but also at times forgettable.
The voice cast offers competent performances. Though in many markets the French original is dubbed for international release, actors like Damien Ferrette (Falcon) and Hervé Jolly (Rex) anchor the characters with enough personality to carry the scenes.
In the English dub, Wyatt Bowen voices Falcon and Angela Galuppo plays other roles.
None of the performances are scene-stealing, but they are solid and serviceable—helping the characters feel alive even when the script doesn’t always allow for deep complexity.
In considering where Pets on a Train fits within the current landscape of family animation, it offers a middling but respectable option. Unlike the ambitious world-building of a How to Train Your Dragon (2025) or the layered satire of a Zootopia, Pets on a Train doesn’t try to revolutionize the genre—it aims to deliver a safe, suspenseful family outing. In that sense, it achieves its modest goals. Its limitations in emotional depth, originality, or thematic risk mean it may not rise above being a serviceable kids’ film, but many young viewers will find enough to enjoy.
In summary, Pets on a Train is a well-intentioned, modestly entertaining animated adventure for families. It excels in momentum, visual design, and delivering light thrills safe for younger audiences. Its characters and story are functional, if not particularly bold. Adults may find it lacking in depth or surprise, but children will likely respond to the excitement, the peril, and the message that cooperation and courage can help you face even runaway dangers. For a casual family movie night or a mild holiday diversion, it fits the bill—even if it doesn’t linger in the memory long after the credits roll.
