Fixed Review - Genndy Tartakovsky's Triumphant Return Is an Artistic Adult Animation

Published 13 hours ago• 5 minute read

Animator Genndy Tartakovsky made a name for himself with Cartoon Network shows like Dexter’s Laboratory and Samurai Jack, establishing him as one of the voices to watch in animation in the ‘90s and early aughts. Because of this, animation fans won’t dismiss his latest work as just another raunchy adult animated movie — although it doesn’t lack the raunchy fun — Fixed is a genuinely artistic, well-made picture with the unmistakable touch of its creator.

Fixed follows a horny mutt who discovers that his humans are going to take him to the vet in the morning to be neutered, causing him to go out on the town for one last night of debauchery before losing his manhood. The best way to describe this film is like The Hangover if it were made for Adult Swim, and it’s just as crazy as that sounds.

FIX Ensemble — FIXED (L to R) Beck Bennett as Sterling, Bobby Moynihan as Lucky, Fred Armisen as Fetch, Adam Devine as Bull, Aaron LaPlante as Luther and Idris Elba as Rocco in FIXED. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

Clocking in at a lean, mean 85 minutes (including credits), Fixed trucks along at a rate that few other comedies have in quite a while. The middle act of the movie does feel somewhat rushed — there was plenty of opportunity left on the table to explore even more raunchy antics with our canine protagonists — but the setup and payoff are incredibly economical in a way that a lot of crude comedies fail to achieve.

Part of why Fixed works so well is that it keeps its core ensemble small. We have our protagonist, his entourage of three friends, a love interest, and an antagonist. Sure, they encounter some wacky supporting characters along the way — and the script gives us plenty of those to enjoy and remember — but it’s easier to get invested in the film when it gives us a tight-knit group of characters to follow.

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The other aspect of Fixed that stands out is, of course, its humor. For the first few scenes, audiences might be worried that it’s going to be a one-note comedy that’s just a bunch of ball-themed jokes, but once the action actually starts going, it becomes clear that the comedic juices were flowing here. There are some incredibly creative comedic setups, and most importantly, the movie is willing to commit to the bit, taking gags all the way. It knows when to stretch something out for maximum effect.

However, what turns a good raunchy comedy into a great one is a genuine heart, and Fixed has plenty to spare. Underneath all the over-the-top humping jokes is a story about acceptance and being true to oneself. The film reminds audiences that validation isn’t everything — the type of message you would find in a children’s fable, but with a decidedly R-rated edge. There’s also a very unexpected subplot about LGBTQIA+ themes that is far more audacious and inclusive than you would ever expect from a movie like this.

The character design, while very cartoonish and perhaps even a bit weird, is filled with luscious detail. It’s rare to see a hand-drawn animated feature anymore these days, but thank God someone let Tartakovsky do his thing. It’s a very particular style that feels as indebted to underground comix as it does to Saturday morning cartoons. The result is quite simply one of the most ambitious, distinctive animated projects to come out in a very long time.

While Tartakovsky and his animators are, arguably, the true stars of Fixed, the movie did assemble a rather impressive voice cast to bring these characters to the screen. In the lead role, Adam Devine (The Righteous Gemstones) is doing his usual bumbling, so the extent to which you find his performance funny will depend on how funny you typically find him. But he is undeniably perfectly cast in the role.

Fixed n 00 06 35 23 — FIXED (L to R) Adam Devine as Bull and Kathryn Hahn as Honey in FIXED. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2025

The supporting cast is also pretty stacked with recognizable names. Idris Elba plays against type in a role that is hilariously unconfident, Kathryn Hahn knocks it out of the park as Devine’s character’s love interest, and Beck Bennett is over the top and hilarious as one of the antagonists. There are also appearances by some voice acting royalty, including Daran Norris (The Fairly Odd Parents), Sean Chiplock (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild), and Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes).

There is a world in which we never would have seen Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed, and thank goodness we don’t live in it. Now that Netflix has saved the film from the wrath of Zaslav, we get to enjoy one of the most artfully animated movies of the year, and yes, it’s the movie that’s essentially an hour and a half of non-stop dog boner jokes.

Raunchy but also surprisingly heartfelt and artistic, Genndy Tartakovsky's Fixed is an excellent adult animated comedy that unmistakably bears the mark of its creator's signature style.

Fixed Review — Genndy Tartakovsky’s Triumphant Return Is an Artistic Adult Animation

Sean is a film critic, filmmaker, and life-long cinephile. For as long as he can remember, he has always loved film, but he credits the film Pan's Labyrinth as having started his love of film as art. Sean enjoys watching many types of films, although some personal favorite genres include music documentaries, heist movies, and experimental horror.

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