‘Fixed’ Movie Review [Fantasia 2025]: A Horny Animated Comedy With Big Balls

Photo from Netflix

From Jeff Nelson

Adult-focused animation is nothing new, but raunchier fare isn’t always at the forefront of mainstream theatrical releases. Studio titles like South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) and Sausage Party (2016) are rare these days. Genndy Tartakovsky – creator of Samurai Jack and director of The Powerpuff Girls –  isn’t afraid to go full-throttle vulgar with Fixed, a dog-centered animated comedy that blends Judd Apatow-style crassness with Tartakovsky’s nostalgic Cartoon Network flair. 

In the male dog world, testicles equal status. Bull (voiced by Adam Devine) spends his days humping Nana’s leg and taunting the locals with his ever-present, proudly displayed nuts. However, that’s all about to change. The average mutt sees all the signs that his owners are planning to neuter him, unless he can outwit them first. 

Fixed is steeped in gutter humor, and it isn’t just the film’s comedy style – it’s the entire plot. Tartakovsky sets the tone early on a smutty note, where Bull can’t help but plant his penis wherever he can (even the mint ice cream isn’t safe). The difference between this R-rated dog comedy and others of its ilk is that it manages to commit to the shock value without losing the plot.

Bull's anxiety isn’t just about losing his manhood-linked identity, but more importantly, missing his chance with next-door crush Honey (voiced by Kathryn Hahn). He’s too afraid to confess his feelings to her, especially since she’s a prize-winning show dog, while he’s a smaller mutt with less desirable traits. Yet Honey’s affection is mutual; she’s drawn to his genuine personality, rather than the repugnant narcissism of fellow show dog Sterling (voiced by Beck Bennett). However, their owners plan on making them mate.

It’s time for Bull’s last hurrah with his balls. He ventures out of the suburbs and into the city along with his best friends. His pack includes the brawny, yet sensitive Rocco (voiced by Idris Elba), the always-costumed Fetch (voiced by Fred Armisen), and the eccentric and small Lucky (voiced by Bobby Moynihan). Their bromance is as chaotic as Bull’s pursuit of Honey, with each dog stumbling through their own self-discovery.

The setup delivers all the Hangover-adjacent humor you’d expect, including a hallucinatory drug trip where Bull names his nuts Ol’ Spice and Napoleon. Some gags, like the Nana leg-humping, overstay their welcome, but the humor diversifies in the film’s second half. 

Tartakovsky’s hand-drawn 2D animation brings this world to life, recalling his Cartoon Network days with exaggerated reactions and hyper-expressive designs. Every frame leans into whimsical outlandishness. Today’s overreliance on digital animation, rather than mixed techniques, is getting tired, so this is a welcome use of visual storytelling.

At a glance, it’s easy to compare Fixed to the painfully unfunny live-action Strays (2023), but that would sell this animated romp short. The laugh-per-minute ratio isn’t particularly high, but it’s a concise and entertaining adventure. At only 85 minutes long, Tartakovsky and co-writer Jon Vitti keep the story light, prioritizing gag-driven outrageousness that makes you wonder how they got away with it. Yet beneath the shock value lies a surprisingly mature message about identity – one that doesn’t undermine the film’s raunchy roots but reframes them. There’s a heart underneath it, despite hit-and-miss jokes that feel stuck in 2009. 

Rating: 3/5

Fixed played at Fantasia 2025 on August 3rd and hits Netflix on August 13th.

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